Mission 35: Sleepers

[Andae Blakus]

Yang looked to Burwell who turned back down the corridor and approached the apartment that the coordinates on Gerelo's PADD indicated was positively N'Gral's Betazed home which he'd apparently just vacated. The marine tried to work the front door's controls but lost patience; he drew his phaser and aimed for the centre of the door where he knew the lock mechanism to be.

"Colonel, are you sure that's an advisable course of -?" Delik began but was cut off as the type 1 phaser discharged and smoke rose and dissipated from the obliterated lock. Burwell and Yang pulled the sliding doors aside and entered the darkened apartment followed by Gerelo and Valente. Manual blinds had been shuttered; items were strewn over the floor; it looked as if a hasty evacuation had been made.

It seemed the occupant hadn't got away completely without leaving a trail, or some set of clues, as Gerelo spotted in a corner and set into the wall a Starfleet design comm terminal pulsing scarlet.

He walked up to it, the active surfaces periodically lighting up his features, and tapped at a couple keys, "There was a communique that it appears N'Gral accessed, assuming it was him, probably just before leaving. Either it's nothing important or he forgot to shut the terminal down... Oh, probably the latter," he added as he opened the communique and read the first line.

As Valente and Yang opened the blinds and Betazed's light streamed into the apartment, Gerelo read what the message for N'Gral had said. 'We suggest you press Monroe to ask the USS Colombia to depart high orbit and head for the Klingon border. We want as few ships near the Fed core as possible when we bring about the collapse. As for you, Dalton...'

Gerelo frowned and looked at the communique's header; it listed the sender as: Cabal - Cell 4. The recipients' list was just as interesting or curious: those receiving the comm from the Cabal (the organisation that, as Talthor had told them, had created the sleepers in the first place) had been N'Gral, Dalton Baskin, and a certain John Hortus of the moon Titan.

The deputy CTSO informed the others of this finding as he placed a tricorder on the terminal's horizontal surface and established a downlink to copy the Romulan diplomat's communiques onto the device.

"The Cabal..." Burwell mused in response to Gerelo, "Then N'Gral's now been put to use by them. As a sleeper, he has all this useful information and is supposed to lie hidden like the other three, but the Cabal have already seen fit to use him? They're the same group that Talthor has said is trying to cause the break up of the Federation, is that correct?"

Delik and Calli said it was, "Baskin... That's the bloke who worked with the sleeper Savon Fens at Utopia Planitia. Our engineering discovered his name in Kv'oz's interface. But who is John Hortus?"

"Don't know," Yang shook her head for all of them, "Hmm, it possible that N'Gral, being Romulan, has now been put to use not only because he's a sleeper but because the Cabal may have a relationship with the Romulans? Think about it, those who we encountered on the fortress claim to be working to counteract the Cabal; they include Klingons in their number and they are very near Klingon space, perhaps inside it if Talthor and co are right in still considering themselves part of the Klingon Empire. The Klingons and Romulans border each other. So wouldn't it be natural that the Cabal would strike an agreement with the Romulans?"

"Well it certainly fits, but it remains speculation."

They were all still wondering why the Betazoid official had tipped two of them off; their only answer was that he had known about N'Gral and his illegitimate connections, but that warning his higher-ups might have in his own view constituted a security risk. How many in the civic administration of Betazed might N'Gral have in his or rather the Cabal's thrall? Letting the Raven officers know surreptitiously, once they'd asked, might've been the official's only safe option.

"I advise we leave this building as quickly as possible," Burwell said, "Exit the zone of comm interference and contact the ship with our findings regarding N'Gral's received message." The others readily agreed.

On the ship, after giving Grax and Monroe a tour about the bridge and the deck below - before sending them off to the Raven's Wheel mess hall - Blakus learnt that Milyanov had been released from sickbay and had resumed duties, supported by Taylor and Finch who would watch him for any relapse into the state brought about by contact with the copy of Kv'oz's neural-synaptic interface.

The only officer missing from engineering now was Tinsley, still playing at being Brak Tsr to allay Cardassian suspicions on the monitoring station...

* * *

"They're Federation marines!" one Cardassian cried after researching the prisoners' uniforms. "What is that slime doing here? Trespassing in our space, spying on us."

"Careful, Tolar, and don't you harm them. What do you think Castellan Lang would make of your hurting Federation citizens, the Union's friends of recent times?" his colleague and fellow civilian Yinat replied aghast, while he flicked the main transceiver through different frequencies, listening for any Talarian signals.

"Lang is a long way from here," Tolar shook his head and shot back a glass of kanar, "Besides, she understands little of what it really means to be Cardassian."

"You're of the True Way! The Castellan and the rest of us will soon see the back of you."

"There's no need to insult me; I'm not with the True Way, I'm merely a patriot."

Another Cardassian walked into the mess and spoke, "I agree with Yinat. We can't be harming Federation citizens, even if they are military." The other two ceased their arguing, recognising the oddball who actually seemed to like this place, Brak Tsr - who unbeknown to them was of course Tinsley of the Raven.

[Carl Torek]

Conference Room ...
USS Raven-C ::

'We suggest you press Monroe to ask the USS Colombia to depart high orbit and head for the Klingon border. We want as few ships near the Fed core as possible when we bring about the collapse. As for you, Dalton...'

"..... And you've no idea as to why N'Gral ran?" Carl asked, sliding the PADD along the curve table.

"We think he knows..." Calli said, albeit not one hundred percent sure of her reasoning, "... We were helped in finding him, so maybe someone on the other side tipped him off that we were looking for him?"

"The other side ..... So just 'which' side would that be, the ones we're reluctantly aiding, or the others?" Torek asked, clearly frustrated at the recent turn of events.

"He can't get off the surface, a Romulan junior attaché would stick out like a sore thumb if he demanded passage without prior arrangement. Unless he had diplomatic clearance," Colonel Burwell speculated.

"No, he's still on the surface, someone's hiding him, or at least ensuring we don't get our hands on him..." Carl said, rising from his seat to lean against the window watching the planet slowly rotate beneath them, "... The Betazed Official, the one Gerelo and Yu Lang spoke to, the one that gave them his location. Get back to the surface, find that Official and ask him where our Romulan is!"

"What if he's, reluctant?" Calli asked, he could cause us a 'lot' of trouble,"

"He provided us with N'Gral's location, he's hardly going to go running to the authorities the second he sees you," .....

Betazed ::

Valente, Burwell, Gerelo and Yu Lang materialised in the same location as before. Immediately they walked to the offices where they had asked for directions. Gerelo and Burwell remained outside while the others approached the desk. Yu Lang turned to them and shook her head, it seemed the man who had helped them had finished his shift:

"I know it's really unusual to ask, but we're leaving for home this evening, the man helped us a lot with points of interest we might enjoy, we didn't get his name, but we'd like to thank him personally before we go," Calli said as innocently as possible. The new attendant looked at them both for a long moment as both women fought to keep their inner thoughts from him, seemingly happy to help he nodded.

"I shouldn't, but..." the man said, glancing around furtively, "... His name is Tak Jroi, he normally goes to a bar in Runarka Plaza, five minutes walk from here, it's the only bar off the north side, you can't miss it,"

"Thank you," Calli said, smiling as the two walked away.

Outside they relayed the information to Burwell and Gerelo then headed for the plaza, finding the bar quickly they decided all four would go in with Calli and Burwell remaining closer to the exit on the off chance the person they were looking for wasn't in the mood for further discourse. At the door a man stopped them, asking if they wanted free chips to play the numerous games of chance inside. Burwell and Gerelo happily took a handful each.

"These people are telepaths, how can they play against each other without knowing what the other has?" Yu Lang asked, making the others grin.

"A dampening field covers the establishment ....." they turned to see the man who had given them their chips stood behind them, "..... Preventing, telepathic reception,"

"Really?" Yang replied as Gerelo pulled her into the bar as the man watched them closely before returning to the door.

"Split up, if you see him don't approach without the other two," Calli instructed, grabbing Yu Lang before walking off. They purchased drinks at the bar then began to move around trying to find the room, Calli could see the other two on the opposite side of what could have been a dancefloor, suddenly Gerelo looked at her and nodded. The man they were looking for was sitting at a table playing a game, he didn't see the Federation Officers approaching, so when Lang tapped him on the shoulder, he looked at her confused for a second, before realising who she was.

"I don't know where he is,"

"So you know we're looking for him...!" Calli whispered as the dealer waited, "... It's your turn I think," she said, nodding towards the table. Jroi picked up his winnings and stood, walking to the bar, ordering drinks for them all. He motioned for them to go to an empty table then looked at them clearly frightened.

"I can't help you..." Jroi said, downing his drink in one then holding his glass up, a waitress passed, taking the empty glass before returning with a refill, "... They will kill me, might do anyway now they think I have betrayed them,"

"Who's them ..... The Cabal?" Burwell, sitting next to him asked, realising that Jroi was not listening, he waved a hand in front of the man's face but received no reaction. Reaching into his pocket he pulled out a tricorder and tried to scan the Betazoid but he fell forward, hitting the table with a pronounced 'thud' .....

"He's dead..." the Marine said replacing the tricorder to his pocket, before pushing the body of Jroi up and back, so to any casual onlooker he would look as if he had simply imbibed too much, and was now sleeping off the effects, Burwell quickly went through Jroi's pockets, taking everything that might prove useful, "... We've been seen talking to him, we should leave before we're accused of murdering him,"

Outside the bar Burwell took out the items and looked at each, in turn, finally handing an identification card to Calli.

~~~~~

Outside the building, Burwell and Gerelo walked around to check the back ..... Unlike the communal accommodations, this was a single dwelling with a small garden front and back. They returned to the others and approached the front door. Calli placed the coded key to the pad and the door clicked open, they could smell food being prepared as they entered.

"You're late ..... I was about to ....." N'Gral entering the living area from the kitchen, stopped speaking, the blood draining from his face, as he saw the four Federation Officers looking at him ..........

[Andae Blakus]

The second official who'd helped Calli after she'd asked about Jroi could no longer live with his conscience and went to his administrators to inform them of what he'd done, how he'd directed the stranger and her apparent associates to Jroi's location off the northern plaza.

To his surprise, his immediate superiors were already on the case, having sent civic enforcement officers to his workplace to investigate. They'd left Jroi and the official's information centre and had explored the set of buildings to which two of the four unknowns were thought to have gone after being assisted by Jroi.

Betazed's head of security - an immediate subordinate of Administrator Monroe who was on the Raven - had heard rumours that Tak Jroi was associated in some way with the Romulan N'Gral, and recognised that one of the buildings to which the unknown group had headed included the diplomat's Betazed home; the security head's investigators found that particular apartment abandoned.

Made to sit at a console in the security head's office, the second official was shown images and basic data on all the visitors to Betazed who'd arrived at the planet in the last day. Who had asked him about Jroi? The number of faces was obviously huge, but he need identify only one of them to confirm that those who'd questioned him were recent arrivals.

"That's one of them," he pointed at the screen, and the head of security's assistant ceased scanning through. Valente (and Burwell) weren't in the list, having transported down from the Raven in a different manner, while Gerelo hadn't met with the second official, but he was able to identify Captain Lu Yang, her image captured as she'd passed through a visitor's centre.

"If you'll excuse me, Commander, I've been told I must take a call from the surface," the human administrator Monroe told Andae (who'd headed to The Wheel to see whether the guests needed anything) and left the mess; he returned minutes later looking exasperated, "I've spoken to our head of security. Why do you have officers on the surface, in civvies, hunting after our foreign diplomats?" he asked Blakus, "A drink, quickly," he asked the bartender. "I thought your personnel were on shore leave."

Andae held his tongue initially; it wouldn't do any good to lie, there was no reason for it unless the Raven crew were to live in fear of Talthor, the other Klingons and their human associates, "My apologies, Mr Monroe... we were searching for information on the junior attache of the Romulan Star Empire, and felt we couldn't inform you. You see... our work is part of covert operations." Well, that is a half-truth, he thought. "It was just the one diplomat," he added.

"Just the one!"

"I apologise, sir," Andae said, "Please rest assured that our actions are in the best interests of Starfleet and the Federation. I wish I could tell you more, but a great deal is at stake and secrecy is of the utmost importance."

This mollified Monroe though he was still worried about matters of jurisdiction; Blakus returned to the bridge with Monroe and Ambassador Grax, the diplomatic situation now delicate.

Meanwhile, Betazoid enforcement officers on the surface approached the northern side of the plaza and lingered for a while outside the bar. The same doorman who'd spoken to Calli and co asked them why they were there, and duly informed them that Jroi had been found dead at his table and the visitors - who the Betazed head of security had discerned were from the Raven - had already left the premises.

The Betazoids groaned and, believing they were now searching for killers, began tracing the Raven officers' steps towards what unbeknown to them was another residence of N'Gral's - the Cabal's Betazed safehouse. They were only about 100 metres away when N'Gral snatched at an antiquated Romulan handgun mounted on the safehouse's living room wall and shot it at the four Raven officers who'd burst in.

[Carl Torek]

Cardassian Monotiring Station 17-D5 ...
Asteroid Field
Cardassian / Talerite Border Space ::

Ken Zu Yang and David Scott, hands bound behind their backs had been seated in what looked like the Cardassian's Mess ..... They listened, saying nothing as the two Cardassian's discussed them:

"..... They're Federation marines!" one Cardassian cried after researching the prisoners' uniforms. "What is that slime doing here? Trespassing in our space, spying on us."

"..... "There's no need to insult me; I'm not with the True Way, I'm merely a patriot." the two Federation Marines looked up as a third entered the Mess.

"I agree with Yinat. We can't be harming Federation citizens, even if they are military."

"Then we must secure them and contact the High Command, they can issue further instructions...!" Tolar said, grasping Yang's collar and dragging him to his feet, "... Bring the other one, we will put them in Cargo Hold Two, the food in there went off long ago, so it will hide the stench of the Federation slime.

Tsr grabbed the second Marine and pulled him upright, pushing him towards his associate but waiting to see which direction Tolar took. As they left the Mess Tsr followed behind the two bound prisoners until they reached a large door. Glaring at his catch, Tolar entered an access code and the door slid almost silently aside, the stench of rotting vegetables invaded their nostrils as they were pushed into the Hold, Tsr followed them taking a knife from his tunic to cut the ties around their wrists. He looked at the two for a long moment before returning to the door and the clearly annoyed Tolar:

"Why did you cut their bonds?"

"We are not SAVAGES!... It will be hard enough for them to tolerate their new accommodations, without relieving them of a means to feed themselves... Would it not?" Tsr said with a grin. Tolar too smiled before locking the door .....

"Where is their craft?" Tsr asked casually as the two walked down the corridor. Tolar, immediately suspicious, stopped and turned to face him:

"Why would you ask," he demanded.

"Curiosity only ..... It isn't often we on the outskirts get to see Federation technology close up, I would like to look at this craft, I assume you have no objections!" Tsr asked, eyes narrowing as one hand rested on his phaser.

"Do as you please, I have no interest in such things..." the Cardassian replied, "... This is my lot and I am content to serve, gaining useless knowledge will get you nowhere," he said, turning and walking away, clearly giving his colleague no further thought. The moment Tolar rounded the corner Tinsley retraced his steps. Outside the Hold he pulled the cover off the access panel and began to work - He had of course seen the sequence to open the door, but he wanted to ensure that when he reopened it there would be no audio-visual alarms in the Control Center. Satisfied he replaced the cover and opened the door:

"Gentlemen," he said with a wry grin.

"Holy Hell!" Dave Scott said as he stepped into the corridor, tears in his eyes as he fought off the urge to vomit. Zu Yang was likewise affected, coughing fresh, or rather 'fresher' air into his lungs.

"You have to get out of here. There are two Cardassian Warships in this Sector... If they go through with contacting the High Command, they could have a ship here in hours!"

"We'll have to abandon any thoughts of leaving you here to impersonate one of their own..." Yang said, eyes widening when the Raven Engineer objected, "... With all due respect Commander, we're done here. Which way to the Shuttle Bay?"

"Back that way, two Levels below us," Tinsley informed them.

"Weapons .....?" David Scott asked. Nate walked along the corridor and opened a panel. 'Weapons Locker' he informed them as he retrieved two of the weapons, handing one to each of them.

The three quickly made their way along the corridor towards the turbolifts, listening intently for anyone coming their way. Tinsley approached the 'lift as Yang and Scott held back, the last thing they needed was for the doors to open on an unsuspecting Cardassian. The 'lift empty the three entered, all kneeling as the carriage dropped, coming to a stop on the requested Level. They made their way along the corridor and approached the Shuttlebay doors ..... Inside the lights came up and they could see the Genevieve at the far end of the Bay, there was also two smaller Cardassian Shuttles.

"Lieutenant Yang, get our shuttle ready to leave, Lieutenant, with me!" Tinsley said, running towards the closest shuttle.

"Entering he disabled the safeties around the warp core and set the ship to slowly increase power, the eventual overload would destroy the shuttle and likely a fair amount of the Station too, but they had no other options open, the Cardassian High Command could not learn that there had been two Federation Marines aboard, doing so would thrust the Federation and the Cardassian Republic into war! ..... Standing guard, the 1^st Lieutenant watched the door, not one hundred percent sure he agreed with what they were about to do, but he also knew that if they were recaptured, there would be no mercy, they would be handed over to the Obsidian Order never to be seen again!

As Tinsley exited the shuttle the two ran to the Genevieve and boarded ..... They lifted a meter off the deck and rotated, but their escape attempt had been discovered, the shuttle was peppered with phaser-fire as Tinsley tried to override the Shuttlebay doors. Yang, watching the Cardassians, realised they were now in the second of their craft, coming around so the main weapons banks could be trained on the Type Eleven shuttle!
"They're in the second shuttle!" he shouted.

Not waiting to electronically override the doors, Tinsley brought the shuttle's weapons online and targetted the doors, there was a seconds pause, then beams of almost pure energy lanced across the Shuttlebay disintegrating the large doors. He fired the thrusters and shot from the Station. Once clear he spun the shuttle on its axis, in one movement he brought the shuttle's micro-torpedo launchers online and fired back into the vacated Shuttlebay ..... The two torpedoes impacted the emerging shuttle, destroying it instantly, again he spun the ship, pushing the thrusters as he manoeuvred a passage through the myriad of spinning rotating boulders of the asteroid field, finally clearing into open space.

He was about to take them to warp when the core of the remaining Cardassian shuttle reached critical mass ..... There was no sound, no tell-tale sign of the massive explosion and its concequenses, then the  whitest light ..... The shuttle's automated defences darkened the screen before permanent damage could be inflicted on the Humans within. Seconds later they felt the shockwave slam into them, tumbling the shuttle end over end until its inertial dampeners regained control. With no need to check the results of his work, Nate jumped to warp, heading for the last known location of the USS Raven-C ..........

[Carl Torek]

Type Eleven Shuttlecraft
Genevieve ::

There was nothing much more that could be said about recent events .....

Tinsley, still in the guise of the Cardassian, Brak Tsr, was sat at the Science Station, while the two Marines, Yang and Scott took up the pilot's seats. Nate looked as if he were staring off into the distance as what happened ran through his mind again and again ..... Ys, they needed to escape the Cardassian Monitoring Station, yes they had to do everything within their power to ensure that the Cardassians had no evidence that a Federation Shuttlecraft had been captured and taken into the Station, but he just couldn't reconcile himself with the loss of life paid for their freedom.

Several times one or the other Marines informed him of their progress, or of vessels picked up on the shuttles' long-range sensors, but he barely acknowledged their presence, let alone any sign that he had heard or understood their updates. Eight hours into their flight Yang came back to tell him that they had picked up two Galor-Class Starships had been picked up heading for the Monitoring Station, it would only be a matter of time before they realised the Station was no longer there. Inwardly, the Marines were hoping the destruction would appear as a catastrophic malfunction and not an attack!

Time and time again Nate second-guessed his actions, taking no solace from what he told himself.

"I'm monitoring Cardassian communications..." Yang said, glancing back at Tinsley before continuing, "... The High Command logged the loss of contact with the Station and have sent two ships to investigate, presumably the ones we picked up earlier. We should have almost reached the Raven by the time they get there and begin their investigations. I've been making our warp trail, so anyone crossing our path would pick up an old Romulan or Cardassian freight rather than us,"

"I'm holding off trying to contact the Raven, at least until we're in the Beta Zeta System itself. I've adjusted our approach to the System so it will look as if we've come from somewhere other than proximity to the Cardassian Talerite border, just in case..." Second Lieutenant Scott informed the nonresponsive Tinsley from the Pilots seat. The two Marines looked at each other before First Lieutenant Yang came back and crouched next to Nate:

"Commander, we're all responsible for what's happened, maybe I could give you something to help you sleep?" Nate got up and walked into the rear of the shuttle, lowering himself onto one of the bunks as the Marine took a hypospray from the medkit and adjusted the settings. With a nod to the Commander, he placed the hypo' against his neck and activated it. Within seconds the Engineer was in a deep, restful sleep .....

USS Raven-C ...
In Orbit
Betazed ::

Carl was sitting at his desk in the Captains Ready Room when the door chime sounded.

"Come ....." Andae entered, and he could see something was immediately wrong, as the Exec' stepped aside, Monroe and the Betazed Ambassador entered.

"We have been informed that you are conducting unauthorised investigations on the surface..." Halan Grax said. Carl asked the two to sit, waiting for the inevitable. What he did hear was light years away from the berating he was expecting, "... Security has informed me that someone of 'interest' to your people has been found dead, apparently shortly after speaking with four of your Officers,"

"I have instructed that warrens be issued ..... It would be more conclusive to the ongoing accord between us that you yourself instruct your personnel to present themselves,"

"I'm afraid I can't do that, Ambassador," Carl replied, glancing at Andae for a fraction of a second before continuing, "... I assume your people have no evidence in regards to the death?"

"Not as yet, our investigations have only just commenced, bu ....."

" ..... In that case I see no need to either my recalling or compelling members of my crew, who are, after all, enjoying the hospitality of Betazed, hand themselves in for what would undoubtedly be severe questioning in regards to this death. Of course, if evidence does point to one or more of my crew I will ensure they report to Betazed Security without delay," he knew his comments wouldn't go down well, and given both men rose to their feet abruptly confirmed his conclusions.

Andae took a step towards the door as the Ambassador spun around to leave, but the Administrator, Monroe, turned back to face Carl:

"Admiral, I am sure you are aware of the gravity of these findings. I humbly suggest you hand over the personnel involved without delay before this becomes an issue for the Federation Council ..... Good day, thank you for the tour," he said, following Grax onto the Bridge, where Andae instructed Harry Wedlerson to accompany the two dignitaries to Transporter Room Two and see to their safe return to the Capital.

Carl had his elbows on the ornate desk, his head in his hands when Blakus, who had been spoken to by Lysia T'Seng, who informed him that the Genevieve was en route and having just entered the System.

"I'm going to be surprised as hell if 'WE' don't end up causing the Federation's downfall, let alone those pulling at our strings," he said, rising to pour himself and his Exec' a cognac. Blakus decided to allow him to finish at least some of the expensive cognac before he mentioned the shuttle ..........

[Andae Blakus]

Delik dived out of the way as the Romulan who could only be N'Gral fired the ancient weapon presumably from his own culture at them. The shotgun's alloy flechette dart just missed Lu Yang and broke apart as shrapnel - already being quite weakened by immense age - against the kitchen's tiled flooring. Delik felt a sharp pain at the fingers of his right hand and glimpsed running red fluid - a bit of shrapnel had flown by giving him a minor cut.

"Mr N'Gral, we just want to talk," Burwell was saying, as the four of them ducked another Romulan shotgun round and winced in anticipation of more dangerous shrapnel from the latest brittle dart. And steal information imprinted in your mind, Gerelo added to himself.

As had been thought before, N'Gral must've already had support on Betazed, fellow assets of the so-called Cabal, one or more of whom had probably tipped him off that there were people looking for him, perhaps even able to inform him that his hunters were from the USS Raven.

The Romulan diplomat broke away into another part of the house and actually made off across the back garden, vaulting the fence within the picturesque setting towards the back of the green space, and into the greenery constituting the garden of the house that faced onto the next street over.

"Go," Valente directed the other three, and Gerelo ran to and halted at the fence, helping pitch the others over while using his own large frame to climb over himself. The next property they found their way into - and through which N'Gral had already passed - belonged to the ambassador Halan Grax - this set of houses being the diplomats' quarter. They knew this to be so as several holo-stills of Grax and her family and friends adorned the interior walls together with inscriptions, showing names and dedications.

Presumably she's still on the Raven, Gerelo thought, is it a coincidence her property backs directly onto N'Gral's?

Meanwhile, N'Gral had set up in the next house over again, this one's front visible across the other side of the street from Grax's abode. With Betazed's sun now setting just over the opposite house's roof as the Raven away team looked at it, they were blinded to the sight of N'Gral having positioned himself in a second storey window, this time taking aim with a phaser rather than the inaccurate and obsolete flechette shotgun. The weapon's orange beam crashed through the glass and lit up the front room of Grax's house which the Raven officers occupied.

Gerelo and Burwell tried to espy where the phaser strikes were coming from, unable to see N'Gral in a window on the opposite house's second storey. The phaser arcs were increasing in density; unbeknown to the Raven group, a colleague of the Romulan had added his fire from the same building as him except on the ground floor.

"This hasn't been quite as easy as taking Tsr!" Gerelo observed from cover over the din of fire. He wondered if it wouldn't be a good idea to have Vur'ka and her two Klingons find their way down here; he was sure the Klingon officer would relish taking on a Romulan.

<Tag Valente, Burwell>

Having told Carl about the shuttle Genevieve and how it'd apparently been captured before being able to break away - with Tinsley/Tsr aboard as well - and watched the Admiral quickly fill his cognac glass up again, he received a call from the bridge. It seemed indeed that the Genevieve was now arriving. Andae called Torek to the bridge after ascertaining the exact situation, and as he did so Tinsley and the two marines were being transported aboard straight to sickbay for checks while the Genevieve was set to autopilot and was now completing rendezvous by itself.

"I suggest we beam your family up now, Admiral. It's too dangerous to have them down there while Valente and co are being hunted by Betazed security, they themselves are searching for N'Gral and contact with them is intermittent." As Carl agreed and steps were taken to transport his partner, daughters and T'Seng back aboard, they were alerted to a situation in sickbay.

Arriving, they found an extraordinary situation. Towards one end, at the main biobed and behind a forcefield, two Cardassians looking like Brak Tsr stood, just apart from each other, both urgently trying to convince Dr Roach and those assembled that they were the real Tinsley. Of course, Tsr knew Tinsley from Starfleet Academy, Blakus thought, and if he'd become aware that it was Tinsley who'd impersonated him, he'd know who to try to claim to be, if he chose the path at all.

"Can't you just use your medical tricorder and scan their biosignatures to figure it out?" Andae asked the CMO over the din of the competing maybe-Tinsley and maybe-Cardassian.

"I can't, they're standing too close and we're too far away."

<Tag Torek, Roach>

[Carl Torek]

Betazed ::

Several times, the Federation Officers were convinced they had N'Grel cornered, they had tried over and over to persuade the man to show himself, they were well aware that the only reason he was still relatively 'at large' was the fact that he was firing at them with some archaic weapon that all of them quickly realized could and undoubtedly would cause serious damage should it impact anyone of them .....

Again something slammed into the wooden frame of the door close to Calli'd head, she reacted, ducking behind the wall, then she saw him move away from his concealment heading towards the rear of the house. She sent Burwell, Yu Lang, and Gerelo around to her left and right, while she inched forward, hoping not to be the recipient of one of N'Gral's projectiles.

"He's crossed the garden," Gerelo said, frustratedly.

They had been counting the time between shots from N'Gral's archaic weapon, estimating they had approximately fifteen seconds between one shot and the next. Fifteen seconds was more than enough to cross the open space of the garden and conceal themselves in the shadow of the house the Romulan had entered. Burwell, inched forward, looking for a place to head to when the orange beam of a phaser-type weapon missed him by centimetres! ..... It hadn't gone unnoticed that the Romulan had apparently upgraded ..... They were still struggling to pick out where the fire was coming from when a second beam slammed into the building.

"That can't have been him!" the Marine said, silently thanking whoever was listening for the attackers' poor aim. Then as if to confirm Burwell's assumption two beams lanced across the garden area.

"We're never going to cross the garden while they are both firing..." Lang said, adjusting the setting on her phaser, "... Get ready ....." she said, leaning out from cover and fired several times in quick succession. The beam, set to the highest power option, hit the building, burning neat holes in the structure. It was hoped the firing would give them time to cross the open space relatively safely, alas N'Gral's associate had other ideas and returned fire almost the moment Yu Lang had ceased ..... Once again they were pinned down, and it was only a matter of time before Betazed Authorities took control of the situation.

"This hasn't been quite as easy as taking Tsr!" Gerelo said from his suspect cover. Calli agreed. Tapping the commbadge beneath her jacket she contacted the Raven ... In the centre seat, the Chief Operations Officer was receiving confirmation from Transporter Room Two, that the Admiral's family and Commander T'Seng were safely aboard when he was contacted from the surface:

=^= Wedlerson .. Go ahead Commander =^=

=^= Harry .. We are pinned down .. There are two people .. One Romulan the other unknown .. They are approximately twenty metres to our .. North =^=

=^= We have them on sensors .. We've also picked up weapons fire .. There are several people on the ground coming your way and one Security vessel approaching your location =^=

=^= How long do we have? =^=

=^= Forty-five seconds for those on the ground .. Two minutes for the approaching vessel =^=

=^= Get a transporter lock on the two firing at us and transport to the Raven Main Brig .. Then beam us back up there before we find ourselves with some explaining to do =^=

=^= Stand by .. .. .. =^= Harry answered, contacting Admiral Torek and Commander Blakus, who were still in Main Sickbay. Lysia, having arrived back on the Bridge a moment ago, listened to the conversation between Wedlerson and the Admiral, then immediately retraced her steps to the turbolift.

"Deck Eight - Brig!," she requested. On the surface, Calli was about to repeat her order to the Operations Chief when the firing ceased abruptly, as it did, they could hear the voices of those approaching the front of the building. Standing they moved into the shadow and waited. Calli saw the first of those coming to investigate the reported firefight as they disappeared .....

USS Raven-C ::

Materialising, the Away Team left the Transporter Room and headed directly to the Raven's Main Brig ..... They had almost reached the doors when the Chief Tactical Security Officer came around the corner from the opposite direction:

"Lysia?" Calli queried, realising instantly that something was amiss. T'Seng was about to reply, when Vur'ka, accompanied by one of the ship's Security Personnel, strode towards them!

"I 'DEMAND' to be allowed to question the Romulan!" she said, glaring at T'Seng.

"There you go again... Demand... Demand... Demand..." Burwell said, receiving a look from Calli, who then returned her attention to the Klingon.

"..... Which 'Romulan' would that be again?" she asked.

"Take care, Human, I will tolerate so much from your Commanding Officer ..... 'YOU' on the other hand ....." Vur'ka said, taking a step towards Calli.

Unbeknown to the others, Starfleet Command had spoken with Carl following an urgent communication from Betazed, asking Doctor Roach to keep trying to figure out who was who, he headed for the Main Brig.

~~~~~

"Security..." they all turned to see Admiral Torek approaching, "... Please escort Lieutenant Vur'ka to her quarters, and see to it that she remains there. Commander T'Seng, I want the Brig sealed off to all personnel until further notice,"

"Aye, Sir," T'Seng said, turning to her Officers.

"Calli, with me, Andae will join us shortly," Carl said, heading for the turbolift. Neither spoke until they reached the Captain's Ready Room ..... Inside Carl sat at his desk, motioning for Calli to do likewise as Andae entered.

"Sir?" Calli queried.

"All hell has broken loose..." Carl said, glancing at the drinks cabinet but deciding against it for the moment, "... Apparently, the Betazed Government have issued a thus far 'informal' complaint to the Federation Council regarding our 'activities' on the surface, which unbelievably, include wrongfully detaining a Romulan Junior Attaché named N'Gral," he watched the expressions on his two most Senior Officers ..........

[Carl Torek]

Captains Ready Room
USS Ravn-C ::

Carl had finished informing his Senior Officers of the Council's concern, and was waiting on their input:

"..... So the Cardassians don't actually think we are responsible for the destruction of the monitoring station?" Andae asked, clearly astonished.

"At this point, no ..... Their vessels have only recently arrived, but according to reports intercepted by the Federation Council, they seem to be airing towards a catastrophic failure of their power grid," Carl said.

"What about the torpedoes the shuttle fired?" Calli asked.

"Again, no signs, but the Federation Council, and Gheskori are rightly concerned.

"The Section Admiral has been informed!"

"Yes... The Council spoke to him first, and both he and the President are rightfully concerned. But until informed otherwise, we're to proceed as we feel fit ..... Our primary issue is the Cardassian we have aboard...!" Carl said, getting up to request a coffee for each of them, placing one in front of his Exec and the Intel' Officer before returning to his seat with his own cup, "... The moment we return to the Fortress to hand him over, knowledge of his miraculous survival will undoubtedly spread,"

"We 'could' ask Talthor to keep him out of circulation," Calli suggested.

"He didn't ask to have this information implanted, it would be cruel to force him into lifelong incarceration," Torek said as Calli got up to replace her empty cup on the replicator pad.

"There's one other option we haven't considered ..... Though I'm not sure you'll like it any better than imprisonment ....." she said.

"Which is?" Blakus asked.

"We know that 'both' groups need the four segments of data to proceed... As yet, we can't say for certain just what that data consists of, it could be anything from planetary defence codes, to which Diplomat has been indiscreet with what Diplomats partner, to the launch codes for every planet-based weapon, to the recipe for mint and chocolate chip ice cream! ..... We just don't have enough information to even speculate, other than knowing there are four parts, and neither side can progress without all four pieces of the puzzle,"

" ..... So your suggestion would be?" Carl asked, trying to remain patient.

"We deprive either side of getting their hands on all four pieces of data..." she said, looking from Torek to Abdae and back, half expecting to be handed a list of issues, but neither man spoke so she continued to vocalise her train of thought, "... Our only problem would be getting our hands on a Cardassian escape pod,"

"To what end?"

"We'd need one to dump Tsr in..." she said, getting her thoughts straight before continuing, "... All this time we've been trying to get our hands on the data held in the four neural-synaptic interfaces, we know that Talthor will by now most likely have the information he needs from two of the four, Kv'oz, and Savon Fens, but he and the others still need the information N'Gral and Brak Tsr are carrying, and we have them both. So instead of trying to get the data, we erase it completely. This would leave both sides unable to continue with their plans, good or bad ..... We can wipe Brak Tsr's memory, and say we found him in an escape pod. I'm sure the Doctor could fabricate loss of memory, along with some imaginative injuries. It's doubtful he would be interrogated once the Cardassians have him back ..... As for N'Gral, we could sedate him while he's asleep and fry the interface before releasing him,"

"We wouldn't need the pod if we explained we picked it up on long-range sensors while en route here, and transported their 'near-dead' Officer over to the Raven before the escape pods life support gave out..." Carl speculated, "... I doubt even the Cardassians would go searching for a burnt-out pod... But we would still need to explain 'why' we brought a Romulan Attaché aboard without permission, and then held him," Carl commented, seeing Andae nodding in thought.

"It's an option we can consider," Calli said with the smallest of shrugs ..........

[Andae Blakus]

Blakus guessed that if they were to tell Talthor they'd found both Tsr and N'Gral in such a condition that both their interfaces had been wiped it would at least nip in the bud either the Klingon's, or his presumed adversary's, plans to influence the Federation one way or another. However, something about this didn't sit right with him,

"What if Talthor doesn't buy it? You know what, I think it's almost certain that he won't."

"What do you mean?" Torek asked.

"We'll be ok with the Cardassians," Andae said, "if in time they're going to discover Tsr is missing and assuming they learn of our escape pod story. But aside from the matter of N'Gral and what we're going to tell Command about him, if we try to tell Talthor that the Cardassian's and Romulan's interfaces were blank or fried already when we found them... Well, he very likely won't believe us. Even if he does he may well do away with Tinsley and Simmons's families anyway. I don't think we can take that risk."

"Then we have to find a way to save them, or pull them out of danger before we inform Talthor of the apparent fried interfaces," Valente shrugged.

Andae paused and nodded, "True."

"We look for a solution to beam the families out of the Fortress before we contact Talthor to announce we've brought the two remaining sleepers to him and his associates?" Carl asked.

"Or search for some way to prevent Talthor from being able to give the order to execute them once we've spun him our tale," Andae mused, and thought he had a bright idea, "We could ask Vur'ka to try to convince him to allow us to leave and the families to go free, or perhaps she could deceive him - repeating our story about the escape pod and the strange incident of N'Gral's fried implant." Carl and Calli looked at the XO as if he'd grown two heads. He explained, "While we were on the Fortress? Yes, Vur'ka was a nightmare, but she at least seemed sympathetic to our situation."

"Yes, but since we left to head for the Cardassian outpost she's been a thorn in our side. It's as if Talthor has been amongst us all this time. No, Andae, I don't think we can rely on Vur'ka."

Andae threw his hands up theatrically, "Then we could make the case to Talthor himself. Think, if he truly wants to stop the other group - the Cabal - from causing the break up of the Federation, then he'll be glad, on some level, to learn that he's no longer able to integrate the four sets of data. What he's unable to access, the Cabal are unable to access, and so the Federation will be safe."

"I don't trust Talthor. And neither do you," Calli said.

"Yes, so once we reach the Fortress we should find a way to bring him aboard, kidnap him if you like. Isolate him from being able to give the order of execution, if he decides on it. Then we can tell him that he and his human associates need not combat the Cabal any longer, as we'll have wiped two of the sleepers' interfaces."

"Ok," Carl nodded, "And in the meantime, while we head to the Fortress, you look for a way to bring the Tinsleys and Simmonses back aboard."

Andae readily agreed and returned to the bridge, where from the XO's chair he made contact with engineering and the best transporter operator on the ship to find a way through the Fortress's shielding. Meanwhile N'Gral and Brak Tsr, the correct one having been identified, were sedated to have their interfaces burnt out.

Andae wondered how they were going to excuse themselves to Command for having taken N'Gral. It was part of the Betazoids' complaint to Starfleet - abduction of the Romulan diplomat. The Raven crew couldn't very well tell Command the truth; to inform them N'Gral was an active member of the Cabal would be to beg the question of Starfleet, who were the Cabal? An investigation would be opened, the course of events would become unpredictable. The Raven had an opportunity to stop the Cabal now, before anyone else became aware of them.

[Carl Torek]

"OK..." Carl nodded, "..... And in the meantime, while we head to the Fortress, you look for a way to bring the Tinsley's and Simmons' back aboard." Andae and Calli nodded, leaving him alone.

For a short time, he pondered speaking to the Federation Council to fully appraise them of recent events, but decided against it. Standing he returned to the Bridge. On the viewscreen, Betazed was moving out of view as the Raven left orbit. After a moment he walked over to the Communications Officer:

"Lieutenant, am I right in thinking we're having issues with our subspace communications array?" he asked casually, thinking to himself that if Gheskori, or indeed the Federation Council, decided to rake him over the coals, they will need to wait for their pound of flesh, at least until he was done, before satisfying themselves.

"Sir...?" the woman queried, before she noticed the Mission Advisor looking at her, her eyebrows raised, "... Erm, yes... Sorry Admiral, I meant to report that we're having issues with the subspace array, could be out of commission for several hours,"

"Very well, please keep me informed on the repair progress Lieutenant," Torek said, returning to the centre seat.

"..... Aye, erm ..... Sir," the woman said, completely confused, but knowing when her cooperation was required, she, like every Officer, were completely aware that, some things were simply beyond their proverbial pay grade.

"Helm, how long to our destination?" he asked.

"Present speed... Sixteen hours eleven minutes," Lieutenant Fields confirmed.

"Thank you Lieutenant..." he said turnint to Calli and Andae in turn, "... I've been thinking about our problem," he said in hushed tones.

"Which one, exactly?" Calli asked, earning a grin from Blakus.

"The, 'Getting our Officer's families off that monstrosity Talthor calls home' problem..." Carl said, pausing for a moment as if he'd forgotten what he was about to say before continuing, "... Remember those subdermal transponders?"

"Yes?" Andae and Calli said in unison.

"What would be the chances of us getting someone aboard the fortress undetected to carry out a two-pronged operation ...... We bring Talthor up to the Raven and keep him in incommunicado, so to speak, while at the same time, we bring the families back, so he has no hold over us once we wipe the neural-synaptic implants in N'Gral and Tsr, or hand them over, whichever we finally decide upon?"

"You want us to implant the children?" Calli asked.

"Obviously not..." he replied, already doubting his idea, "... But if we can place one of the transducers on each of the people over there, say in their clothing, the Transporter Chief 'should' be able to get enough of a lock to get them back here?"

"It would be risky," the Executive Officer commented, both Carl and Calli reluctantly nodding their agreement.

"It's not so much getting the tags on each family member, it's getting someone over there undetected to deliver the tags, and if the two parents are separated, it could prove difficult to act before someone asks who we are and what we're doing,"

"But it could work if we time it right?" Carl prodded. They were still mulling over options when Lieutenant Commander Tinsley entered the Bridge, he approached the three of them.

"Commander, good to see you back to yourself, so to speak," Torek said, standing to shake the Engineers hand,"

"Thank you, Admiral, it was an experience... One that, with all due respect, I'd prefer not to repeat..." Nate said with a wry grin before continuing, "... We're heading back to the Fortress?" he asked.

"Yes ....." Blakus replied quickly, knowing his friend was rightly worried, and as it happened, Carl had already considered Tinsley's involvement given it was his and another Officers' families that were effectively being held hostage to ensure 'his' compliance.

"Commander Blakus is going to be working with the Transporter Chief to find a way through the Fortress shielding... I'm sure your input will be beneficial,"

"Thank you, Admiral, I'll go down to Engineering and begin looking at possible scenarios," Tinsley said, turning to head to the turbolift ..... Once he had left, Calli spoke:

"You think it's a good idea to have him working on his family's rescue?"

"Better to have him working alongside others than pacing his quarters and ending up doing something irrational that could jeopardise everyone down there..." Carl replied, his apprehension growing exponentially as they continued on, "... we need to remember that regardless of concequenses, our first and most importeant priority, is the families, a long second to that, is stopping 'both' factions from achieving their goals, however honourable, or otherwise," he said.

"We still have the issue re Vur'ka ....." Calli commented.

"I still can't trust her," Andae began, falling silent as Calli continued her train of thought.

"There's no way for us to know what influence, if any, she has with Commander Talthor. She could be one of his closest confidantes or a subservient, brainwashed follower. If we tell her too much she might just go running to her leader and spill the beans re our plans ..... But at the same time, I realise that we can't keep her confined and out of the loop indefinitely,"

"Well, we still have time to mull over options..." Carl said, glancing at the stars streaming past the viewscreen, "... To be completely honest, I'm open to any idea that isn't completely insane, regardless of where it originates. I think we're all well aware that the 'you know what' is going to royally hit the fan at some point once this mission is completed regardless of outcome. With several Federation Representatives wanting answers to questions we can't answer, it's a given that I will be taking full responsibility for the ship and her actions, good or bad, so you two can rest easy, no ones going to be pointing fingers in your direction ..... Besides, what can they do if I'm not around to hang?" he said, rising to head off the Bridge.

Calli and Andae looked at each other, both with their own thoughts as to what he meant ..........

[Andae Blakus]

"Are we having any luck, lieutenant?" Blakus asked as he entered transporter room 1.

"None so far, sir," the premier operator shook his head, "The fortress starbase has its heaviest shielding around the administrative sectors where Talthor's thought to have his offices, along with other high-ranking Klingons and human members of their organisation. I'm trying an anti-metaphasic approach."

"Keep at it," Andae nodded and then received a comm from security. Apparently, Vur'ka had been using her quarters' intercom to contact the bridge - where Wedlerson now had the conn - and had started to become unruly, making threats, not to mention issuing her customary put-downs.

He acknowledged the comm and made for the Klingon lieutenant's quarters. Outside, he met Wedlerson, who'd answered the summons directly from Vur'ka, after she'd threatened to attempt to replicate a disruptor components one at a time until she had roughly 100 constituent parts she could assemble. Two security guards either side of the door nodded as one of them released the lock, and Blakus and Wedlerson stepped through.

"You will allow me out of here," Vur'ka said brusquely on their entry, "You will allow me to contact the shadowing Klingon vessel. It doesn't matter that we are now returning to Jalkoth fortress, as I clearly see we are doing... you'll allow me to speak to my people immediately."

"We can't do that, Vur'ka... We believe your loyalties may still lie too firmly with Talthor," Blakus said.

She tilted her head at them, "Why do you say that? You're not planning on betraying him are you? Betraying your Klingon friends and the Annex to whom you've promised your assistance?" she grinned toothily. Andae wished he could eat his own words. "Don't worry, human! It's no art to see the mind's construction in the face, as the great Klingon Shakespeare said. Your subterfuge was obvious. You wish to prevent that idiot Talthor from gaining two neural-synaptic interfaces."

"We had meant to bring you into the loop anyway, Vur'ka..." Wedlerson said and looked uncertain.

"Well I am here before you, Federation, I suggest you get on with it," she said impatiently.

Blakus and Wedlerson, shortly joined by Valente, explained to Vur'ka some of what they'd been discussing in the CO's ready room and on the bridge - how they planned to hold Talthor incommunicado, or if that proved to be impossible, at least to rescue the Tinsley and Simmons families from the station via transponders implanted in clothing, so that at least Talthor wouldn't be able to kill them once he discovered - as he undoubtedly would divine - that the Raven crew had destroyed Tsr's and N'Gral's interfaces. Alternatively, if they didn't destroy them, there'd be no need to kidnap Talthor.

"You see why we can't let you out at this stage," Andae told the Klingon, "Despite what you may think of Talthor, if you were to tell him any of this, it would undermine our objective."

"Disloyal petaQs!" Vur'ka barked and grinned, "Your plan is so bold perhaps even Kahless himself would approve. But all the same it has something of the cunning of the Romulan, the rank coward! Presumably you want to put someone on the fortress in order to give your transponder tags to the two families? Very well, if you wait a moment, I will recall for you the frequencies of the three primary shield generators."

"You have the shield frequencies?" Andae said, blinking.

"Of course," she shrugged with the usual restrained Klingon aggression, "And who are you sending over there with your tags? Your senseless marine colonel? Or that blinkered chief of security? Surely you have realised by now they barely know how to put one foot in front of the other. And who will guide them through the fortress?"

"Are you suggesting you go yourself to find the families?" Calli asked.

"Of course. Otherwise you have no hope in Gre'Thor! Send some security, or whoever you need, to keep watch on me while over there, if you must."

Andae tapped his commbadge, contacting Torek who'd returned to the bridge as well as the transporter operator; courtesy of Vur'ka, they had the fortress's shield frequencies and no longer had to trouble themselves for a way to get people onto the base or to bring Talthor to the Raven.

They would beam Talthor aboard - if it was thought advisable - simultaneously with placing Vur'ka, Burwell and a couple others on the fortress. Vur'ka told them that the shield frequencies would surely be changed once one or two transports took place, so to transport the families back onto the Raven once they'd been found (as well as to bring their finders, Vur'ka, Burwell and co back), the new frequencies would have to be found by Vur'ka and Burwell while on the base.

Andae hoped it wouldn't be too difficult for Vur'ka and co to find those families...

<Tag Torek- glad to clarify if there are any questions>

---

Jalkoth fortress, six hours later, the USS Raven being five hours out

San Francisco Bay lay spread out to the south of them from their vantage point on Angel Island. Behind them, the great towers and cuboid structures of the fort crowned the top and sprawled over most of the island. Inside, the magnanimous Berech and his Annex colleagues were holding a magnificent feast.

Claire, the wife of Nate Tinsley, had never heard of this place, right across from Starfleet HQ and Academy, but here it was, and according to the Annex members she'd met - all actually holographic, not at all representatives of the real Annex, though she was unaware of this as she was unaware of the artificial nature of the rest of her and her daughter's surroundings - it had been here for several decades. What its purpose was she didn't know, no one would tell her, but she didn't mind, as Berech - the only real person besides herself, the Tinsley daughter and Degani Kalta - had been so hospitable and had welcomed the Tinsleys in grand style.

"Double helpings for the Tinsleys, and for Ms Kalta while you're at it," Berech said, striding through the kitchens. In response to his orders, his chefs laced the main courses in question with experimental but non-lethal pathogens. Holodeck safety protocols off? he thought, but then of course Klingon holodecks didn't have safeties!

The western sunlight faded from the ancient girders and metalwork of the Golden Gate Bridge; dusk came on, and the bridge's lighting and that of Starfleet HQ at the Presidio shone like jewels. Claire, holding the hand of her daughter, left the balustrade and headed back into the fort where Berech's people were preparing the main course of the feast. She wondered where Nate was and what he was doing right now, and when he'd be able to join his family back here, on Earth.

[Carl Torek]

Conference Room
USS Raven-C ...
Entering Jalkoth Space
En Route to Fortress ::

"..... And you think she can be trusted?" Carl asked, seeing Andae, Calli, and Lew Burwell all look at each other before collectively nodding.

"It's not like we have a plethora of options open to us..." the Marine commented, "... So far her codes can't be checked, but we'll know soon enough if she's playing us for fools," he finished.

"I'm still not one hundred percent she'll not simply call out our uninvited presence out to the first guard she sees," Torek said.

"She'll regret it if she does!" Burwell said defiantly.

"OK ..... So we're confident in regards to the approximate location of our families, given the information Vur'ka has supplied, so we will transport a small team onto the Fortress, simultaneously bringing Talthor up here as 'hostage' ..... Our window of opportunity will all depend on how long it takes for Talthor's absence to be discovered. If our snatching him isn't immediately noticed, it 'should' hopefully give the away team more time to locate the Tinsley and Simmonds Families, but once the alarm is raised, we'll have to play it by ear. Just remember, the goal here is to bring our people back, everything else is secondary, including this 'Federation survival' fight. Is that completely understood?"

"What about the other Klingons?" Calli asked.

"Once Vur'ka has been collected to be taken to the transporter, I'll have Lysia take a Security team to their quarters to escort them to the Brig,"

"They're not going to like that, at all!" Andae said, winking at T'Seng, not envying the Security Chiefs' upcoming task.

"Wow, thanks, Commander..." Lysia said, "... I'll be taking several of the Colonels Marines along, you can't be too careful," she said smugly.

"Like it or lump it, as the saying goes..." Carl said with a wry grin, "... Either way, the last thing I want is two disgruntled Klingons running riot throughout the ship,"

"..... And once the Families are located, and presumably separated from any obstacles?" Burwell asked.

"You contact the ship immediately for transport, if comms are blocked, we should still be able to pick up the signal from your subdermal transponder..." Carl said, nodding as the Marine reached for the bicep of his left arm, "... Oh ... this should go without saying, but I'm going to anyway: In regards to Vur'ka - Her wellbeing is of zero concern to us, if she wants to try to explain her actions to her superiors once we have what we want, then good luck to her,"

"Have you come to a decision regarding the implants?" Calli asked, seeing Torek hesitate before replying.

"Truth be told ..... I'm inclined to wipe the information regardless of how it affects one side or the other, but that said, I'm still open to comments from you all before I decide,"

"The away team?" Burwell asked.

"Commander Blakus, yourself, Lieutenant Yang, Lieutenant Scott, and Vur'ka," Carl informed them.

"No Security personnel?" Lysia asked, curious.

"No ..... Andae will lead the away team, the Marines have specific training in hostage recovery. If it descends into a running firefight, they will be more prepared to improvise ....." he said, seeing his Tactical Security Officer nod in agreement. He was about to dismiss the meeting when Commander Wedlerson informed them they were approaching the Fortress ..........

01:30 hours ...
Five thousand metres off Klingon Fortress ::

"Do you have a location yet?" Carl asked.

"We have him, in his quarters," Harry Wedlerson confirmed, Carl tapped the comlink to connect him to Transporter Room Two:

=^= Transporter Rooms One and Two .. .. Stand by .. .. =^= he said, nodding to the Operations Chief ..... In Transporter Room One, the Officer began beaming Talthor from his bed to the ship. Simultaneously, the Away Team were transported through the Fortress' shields to within fifty metres of the holosuite containing the Tinsley and Simmonds Families ..........

< Tag: Andae to lead Away Team? >

[Andae Blakus]

It had been settled. The robed physician stood behind the two beds where the captives lay unconscious and the serum was introduced which would create certain chemical reactions in their brains.

"Are you absolutely sure that this won't cause them any harm?" Wedlerson spoke from the corner of the main area of sickbay, watching the scene.

"As sure as I can be. The procedure exceeds the 95% chance of success required to permit me to go ahead," Roach sighed, "Of course, I wish it was a matter of the heart and not of mere statistics..."

She activated the devices round the sleeping heads of the Cardassian and Romulan, beginning the dual operation to fry the interfaces encoded into their cerebral cortexes. The ferromagnet-induced heating and genetic warping - before the DNA repair and reset - on this microscopic level would have to occur at a very specific amplitude, strong enough to prevent the information on the interfaces still being readable but weak enough to avoid irreparable damage to nearby tissue.

Two hours later, Talthor's 'quarters', USS Raven

"Forcefield in place in the doorframe?" The security guard nodded and the door to Talthor's room was opened. The quarters were bare apart from a tritanium bed frame and its mattress and a similarly unbreakable table where the occupant may place any items. Tinsley with Torek and Valente either side of him stood there until Talthor - who was already awake but with his back turned - took notice. After the Klingon commander had exhausted his frustration the officers who'd called explained their course of action. "And you wanted to know about the interfaces in Tsr and N'Gral? I'm afraid to say they're gone. We have rendered them inaccessible."

"What!" the Klingon held a hand to the forcefield, wishing he could pierce it with the force of his will alone. He glared at Tinsley, "The two Raven families we have... One of them is yours, isn't it? Know that you have looked on your wife and child for the last time."

"We knew this would be your reaction. That is why we have brought you here."

Talthor shook his head, "As soon as my people realise I'm gone, the Tinsley and Simmons' spouses are no more."

Tinsley decided it was unlikely Talthor or anyone else on the base would've considered the possibility their commander could be captured by the Raven, but he imagined they would act quickly all the same. But Talthor hadn't finished,

"The Annex will know what has happened to me. They won't wait but will soon be here, in overwhelming force. It will mean the end of you; it will mean the end of our fortress, as they won't want to leave any trace. The Annex would rather destroy all of this to prevent its existence becoming known!"

Holosuite centre, inner ring of torus, Jalkoth fortress

"I do prefer the Raven's holodecks. Much less disorienting," Burwell said as he and the group - apart from Vur'ka - looked about in a daze at the small hexagonal room with its five holosuite entry doors and one corridor leading off to the section's central nexus.

Andae was agreeing with the marine but Vur'ka cut him off, "Silence, fool! Don't you realise my compatriots will hear you?" She read from the tricorder she'd been issued; as well as this device she had a commbadge in case the five of them became separated but hadn't been returned her disruptor or given any other weapon. "Our transport was undetected," she said, "The shield grid remains at the same frequency, so there should be enough time to beam yourselves and your captives out, before my people rotate the shield harmonics."

"Ok, which suite?"

"If my memory serves me, the families are sequested separately in holosuites 1 and 4 in this section. The Tinsleys in 1, Simmonses in 4." She pointed to the suite doors showing the Klingon symbol for numerical unity, as well as the third classical number.

Andae paused to think - he had a decision to make. Did he split the team in two and search for the families simultaneously or look for one at a time? Time was of the essence, and made the choice for him. "Burwell, Scott, you go after the Simmons family. Vur'ka, Yang, with me."

After the Klingon lieutenant had released the locks, Andae stepped towards the door with the unity symbol. It retracted and he was looking at something very familiar - San Francisco Bay from the Golden Gate Bridge. Already thinking the task was well nigh impossible, he looked to Vur'ka for information.

In the search for the Simmons family, Burwell and Scott found themselves in a simulation of Utopia Planitia, Mars, and were approached by a holographic Dalton Baskin, "Guests from the venerable marine corps. What can I do for you?" The marines looked closely and could see a stylised 'A' forming part of Baskin's insignia... the Annex.

[Carl Torek]

..... Burwell watched the Exec, Yang, and the Klingon woman, Vur'ka, walk away towards Holosuite One, then he and David Scott entered Holosuite Four .....

Holosuite Centre, Inner Ring of Torus, Jalkoth fortress ...
Holosuite Four -
Utopia Planitia Simulation ::

"So, any thoughts on exactly 'where' we start looking?" Scott asked, looking around the vast reception area in dismay.

"Beats me..." Burwell said, as disheartened as his junior officer, "... I do know that Simmonds' wife used to be a computer technician before they had their Daughter and they joined the Raven, so maybe she's catching up with old friends or colleagues ....."

"Gentlemen..." they turned to see someone approaching them, a smile on his face, "... Guests from the venerable Marine Corps... What can I do for you?"

"Just visiting..." Burwell said, as both Marines looked closely at the stylised 'A' forming part of the man's insignia... Presumably denoting affiliation to The Annex, "... And you would be?"

"My apologies, I forget my manners at times..." the man said, bowing theatrically, "... I am Dalton Baskin, Head of Administration,"

"Commodore Baskin?" David Scott asked, seeing the man smile condescendingly.

"The rank is honorary, though I did attain the rank of Commander during my time in Starfleet..." he replied, looking from one to the other as if trying to decide on his next comment, "... You said you were 'visiting' ..... Utopia Planitia doesn't get many visitors, and then only technicians, or worse-case, politicians, so would you mind my asking as to 'who' you would be visiting?"

"It's the partner of one of our officers, surname, Simmonds,"

"Ahh, OK, well if you will give me a moment I will check the facility registry for your, associate," Basking said, walking away towards what they assumed was an information centre.

"We're being watched," David said quietly.

"Oh?"

"At our two o'clock, on the mezzanine level, a Klingon woman," Scott informed his Commanding Officer. Burwell took a moment to look around the large reception lounge, several suspended screens showed images of some of the orbital spacedocks where vessels in various states of repair or refit seemed to hang in the darkness of space, only the enormous maintenance cradles giving away their positions. Eventually, he managed to surreptitiously take a look at the person observing them. Surprisingly, she was making no attempt to hide the fact, her attention split between Baskin and themselves. He was about to comment when Baskin reappeared:

"I am sorry for your wasted journey, Gentlemen, but it seems we have no one on the base of that name,"

"Ah, she wasn't here on official business, she was passing through en route to Earth..." Scott said, shaking his head, feigning disappointment that he might have missed the opportunity for an unexpected visit, "... She didn't know we were coming, it was meant to be a surprise. We were supposed to be meeting on Earth, but with it being her daughters' birthday ....." he finished dejectedly.

"Well, maybe you will meet up in due course... Alas, duty calls..." Baskin said, turning to walk away, pausing then turning back to them when Burwell spoke.

"Not a problem, thank you for taking the time to speak to us. I think I'll check the residential sections of the base before we leave, on the off-chance she's with friends... You know how women can be," he said with a shrug of resignation.

"I'm sorry, but I'm afraid we can't allow 'civilians' to wander around willy-nilly...!" the Administrator said, his eyes hardening as he openly glared at the two Marines, "... As you are undoubtedly well aware, there are numerous restricted areas which you will not have access to, one of those is 'Base Accommodations' so, unfortu ....."

"I think you'll find we have the appropriate Security Clearances..." Burwell replied, glancing at the two Security Personnel that had been surreptitiously approaching during the conversation, forcing both to pause, "... I hadn't wanted to do this on an 'official' footing, preferring to keep it on a casual basis... Commander... But I am now informing you 'officially' that we are here looking for someone, and while your protestations, duely noted, will not prevent us from searching where the hell we please, and unless you want to be the focus of a very 'public' altercation, I suggest you instruct your people to return to their assigned duties... Now!" he finished, knowing full well that addressing Baskin as 'Commander' clearly irked the man no end.

Baskin waved the Security Officers away, then glanced over Burwell's shoulder before continuing:

"Do your search, I will be reporting this to the highest authorities, you can count on that!" he said, turning to stomp away, leaving the Marines watching his theatrical retreat ..........

[Andae Blakus]

Blakus walked along a street in the suburbs to the north of Angel Island, having been dropped there by an atmospheric passenger craft which had picked himself, Yang and Vur'ka up at the northern end of the Golden Gate Bridge.

They turned a corner amidst the housing, trying to get to the ferry that would take them to Angel Island where they'd been told an organisation which happened to be called the Annex was holding its annual meeting, and found themselves facing the sunset. It seemed to be either perpetual sunset or sunrise in this simulation; he imagined the Tinsley family wherever they might be hadn't been fooled for long by the program's obvious time warp.

With Ken Yang slightly ahead, Blakus walked beside Vur'ka. "Do you use the same access codes at Starfleet Command as on that aero-transport, Federation?" the Klingon pried unexpectedly.

"Obviously I can't tell you that," Andae said dryly, "What will you say to your superiors, and to Talthor?" he asked her, aware that the admiral had told them not to concern themselves over what would become of Vur'ka once she'd finished assisting them in finding the families, but still curious as to what she might say, particularly as it might reveal whether or not she was preparing to stab them in the back.

"I will think of something. He will hardly be able to accuse me of going easy on you during your vessel's journey, human. I'm only surprised I wasn't apprehended by Starfleet and taken to a Federation prison!"

They found their way down to the harbour and boarded the old-fashioned ferry. The skipper called out and his two crewmen loosened the moorings. Crying gulls flew over the ship as its ancient motor coughed to life. In the west, the Sun seemed to hover forever in the same location, its lower curve hanging just above the road surface of the Golden Gate. Over-picturesque, Andae thought, like one might expect such a simulation to be.

Lieutenant Yang smiled despite himself, "Well, at least it feels like home."


Out in space and on the Raven, the bridge crew tried frantically to discover whether the fortress had become aware of the away team that had beamed through its shield grid. "Are there any signs they have been discovered?" Torek asked from the centre seat, Milyanov listening from the engineering station.

"Negative, sir," Wedlerson responded, "If the Klingons and their associates perform an internal scan, they will find five additional lifesigns, but as it is there's no suggestion they've realised people have been transported through their shields." And they wouldn't expect it, the engineer thought, as they wouldn't expect their shield frequency to have been discovered.

=/\=Bridge, this is Tinsley. I'm here with Talthor, he asks to speak with you.=/\=

Wondering whether they should regret the decision to bring the Klingon commander aboard, Torek asked Talthor what he wanted. =/\=Admiral... I tell you for the third time: the Annex will likely be preparing a fleet of over 200 ships. They will be here in half a day at most... You tire me. Is this how the Federation responds to external threats? By blithely ignoring them?=/\=

The bridge heard Tinsley reply, =/\=When we see those ships, then we will act. We can't go on your word alone, Talthor... What will you do with the two sleepers' interfaces that you have?=/\=

=/\=Oh, we will find a use for them. And it's only a matter of time before my people learn of my absence and your two families are punished. But those Annex vessels, Admiral, I grow impatient, when will you do something?! Where is Starfleet's honour?=/\=

[Carl Torek]

USS Raven-C ...
Holding Station
Five Thousand Metres off Fortress ...

Deck Eleven - Main Engineering Upper Level ::


Numerous times in the last hour or so, Nate had walked past the Chief Engineer's Office, seeing Milianov deep in thought as he studied data displayed on one of the screens on the wall. Deciding to see if he could help, he popped his head in:

"Problems?" he asked, seeing Milyanov look up and beckon him inside.

"What do you make of that...?" he asked. For a moment Nate wasn't too sure what Milyanov was referring to, and said so, "... These are the readings from the continuous scans we've taken of the Fortress in the last six hours, I don't know if I'm just getting too tired, or maybe seeing double, but I'm pretty sure the chances of two scans of a populated structure, regardless of size, being identical, are frankly impossible,"

"Come again?" Tinsley asked, admittedly confused.

"Look at this..." Milyanov instructed, putting a readout on the screen, asking Tinsley to pick a line of data, any line, like some bizarre card trick. Shrugging, Nate did as asked, then waited while Milyanov reset the information being displayed.

"That's the same data from before," he said confidently.

"No ..... It's not ..... In fact, 'that' is from exactly one hour earlier... Unless I'm finally losing my proverbial marbles, what we're seeing is the whole data packet is repeating itself on a sixty-minute cycle, and not as we thought, a 'real-time' representation!" the Chief said, almost cringing. Tinsley walked closer to the screen and locked his eyes on one line, then asked Milyanov to put the previous data up, low and behold, the two screens were showing exactly the same information.

"That can't be right..." he said, a deep frown forming as he turned back to Milyanov, "... There's no way the tens of thousands of lifesigns we're monitoring on the Fortress, are all returning to the precise spot they were in an hour earlier,"

"Precisely," Milyanov said, both of them sitting in silence for several minutes, each glancing at the data sporadically while they ran options through in their heads. Finally, Tinsley vocalised his thoughts:

"OK, try this ..... Maybe, the Klingons are ensuring that even if we tried, we wouldn't have a hope of locating any specific person or persons, as in our own people...?" he said, continuing when Milyanov remained silent, "... So let's say we want to locate and transport Calli back to the Raven... Normally, we would simply scan for her signature and 'ta-dah' ..... But if we're reading this right, and all we have to go on is what the Klingons are feeding us, which looks plausible. There would be no way to locate anyone, let alone get a transporter lock... I'm ranting on here I know, but the fact is, there's no way to even be sure there are actually 'people' where our sensors are saying there are, well... People," Nate finished, shaking his head.

"You think the Klingons are that proficient?" Milyanov asked, unconvinced.

"Under normal circumstances, I would have given a definitive no, but if they 'are' fabricating the sensor reading for our benefit, there has to be a reason, right...?" Nate replied, standing to look over the data again, silently hoping that if he looked at it from another angle it would make a difference, alas, it didn't, with no new ideas springing miraculously to mind, he turned back to Milyanov, "... Part of me is almost willing to believe they just have something to hide and our people over there are in no immediate danger. My issue is that this Talthor extended invitations to the Admiral, Colonel Burwell, Andae, and Calli, the four seniormost Officers on the Raven,"

"Yes, that gave me pause for thought too," Milyanov admitted.

"Which leaves Harry and yourself as Ranking Officers... Maybe we should let him take a look?" Nate suggested, Milyanov nodded. As they left the office heading towards the turbolift, he quietly asked Tinsley something:

"You think Admiral Torek was wrong to allow the four of them to leave the ship together?"

"It's not for me to question..." Nate said with shrug as the doors slid aside and they entered the turbolift, "... 'Bridge' ... Besides, they have comms, and if they are blocked, each of them has their subdermal implant, so regardless of sensor ghosts or whatever, if they wanted off that deathtrap, we would know about it in short order!" he said as the doors opened.

On the Bridge, they approached the Chief Operations Officer ..........

[Andae Blakus]

The ship pulled up to its assigned dock and ropes were thrown out to be tethered to the moorings. The trio climbed over the gunwale and left the boat, heading along the jetty past nondescript civilians who Blakus noticed didn't bat an eye at the Klingon lieutenant moving by in their midst. He saw that some of them had commbadges which had been slightly redrawn into the shape of an A, presumably signifying the Annex which Burwell had also noticed in holosuite 4.

"These are holograms of members of the Annex?" he asked Vur'ka, "Where are their real counterparts, somewhere on the fortress?" The Klingon didn't reply.

Heading up a winding path, they found their way to the entrance to the complex that dominated most of the island, and headed inside the veritable fortress...

* * *

They were greeted and ushered into function rooms decked out for a large dinner over five tables - a party thrown by the Annex for their delegates as well as non-affiliated guests, the effective maitre d' explained. All seats were occupied and the Annex members and guests seemed to be in the middle of a main course.

After casting a desperately searching eye over the host - he imagined there wasn't a lot of time before the alarm was raised outside the holosuite when the Klingons and possible Annex members found Talthor was gone - Blakus noticed at the end of the central table the human known as Berech, holding court and involving himself in other conversations further down either side of the table. "Commander!" Yang nudged at Blakus and indicated another of the tables, and there were Tinsley's wife and daughter, seated towards the end nearest to the trio.

Blakus darted over to the Tinsleys' table and glancing quickly at the surrounding guests called out quietly, "Claire... Claire! Yes, it's me... We have to go."

"But what are you doing here, Andae? The Raven is at Earth? In orbit?" Claire Tinsley said, half-rising and seeming delighted.

Blakus blinked and furrowed his brows, Oh no... She hasn't realised she's left Earth... There's no time to allow her to adjust... "Claire, all this you see..." he glanced at the other feasters and whispered, "... Is a simulation! Yes, the Raven is here, but we're not at Earth... You were kidnapped, we don't know how but the Klingons and the Annex have managed to bring you and your daughter here and are holding you to insure the Raven's good behaviour. Suffice it to say, the Raven hasn't behaved; now we have to pull you out of this to prevent -"

"What? Where's Nate? Has he made planetfall, too? Oh, It's good to have you all back here in San Francisco."

Why won't she understand? he thought. "Claire, I know this may be confusing for you, and I'm having to explain all this rather quickly which doesn't help... But we must leave now." He practically had to drag her away, the child following but starting to weep. Of course, it would be distressing for mother and child both; he was ripping them away from what they'd assumed to be reality, and knew how he'd feel if he was put in the same position...

"Alright, Andae," she was irritated now, "As long as you tell me what's going on. Are we going up to the Raven?"

"In a manner of speaking... Yes, eventually," he nodded to Yang as he gave the daughter to the marine and the marine gave the two subdermal transponders that'd been brought along to the Commander, who attached them to the inside of the sleeves of the mother and daughter's clothing. Meanwhile, Vur'ka stood aside by herself, seeming like she was at a loose end now the Tinsleys had been found. "Ok, when we're out of here," Andae said, "we join the others in holosuite 4, unless they've found Simmons' family already. You must know how to get out of here, Vur'ka."

"Call us an arch, or whatever you use," Yang added. Vur'ka headed to the corner of the room and uttered a string of commands. Andae knew a little Klingon and it didn't seem to him that she'd called for an exit, but nevertheless one duly popped up and Vur'ka made to head from the holosuite.

"Hold it right there!" Berech called, silencing the feasting delegates and guests. "Where do you think you're going?" He rounded and left the central table, marching towards them and nodding at nearby attendants, who all of a sudden were brandishing strange weaponry.

Andae realised to his astonishment the attendants had the same guns as that used by N'Gral on Betazed, the ancient presumably Romulan flechette shotgun. "How the...?" he murmured.

"Lieutenant Vur'ka, is it?" Berech folded his arms and tapped a foot, Vur'ka sighing and throwing her arms up,

"Program, delete holowarrior Berech," she intoned.

The Annex employee vanished in a haze of red particles. "Nice work," Andae nodded as the trio left the holosuite, Claire Tinsley and daughter in tow, the mother quite shocked, "I'm not sure the real Berech would've appreciated it, Vur'ka, but thank you," Andae added.

"The real Berech, yes..." she replied under her breath and barked, "Come on, Federation, into holosuite 4."

"You can't terminate the other simulation either, I assume?" Yang asked. Vur'ka shook her head, apparently commands to start or end the holoprograms had been locked out to prevent any of the prisoners from 'accidentally' finding a way out.

"Andae, you were right..." Claire was shaking her head in disbelief, still staring at the door of suite 1 until they passed into suite 4 and were surrounded by a different simulation. "But what is this place? Not this, I know Mars... I mean the place containing these programs. And how long have we been here?"

"We're on a Klingon space station. The second question, I don't know. I'm sorry, Claire, this isn't making any sense to me either. But all we can do is find the Simmonses and get ourselves back to the Raven and work things out from there if we have to. We may not have very long."

They passed through corridors of Utopia Planitia's ground-based fleet yards; Andae couldn't decide whether Burwell and Scott had had a tougher time of it here to find Simmons' family than they had in San Francisco. "I was so glad to learn Nate had returned on the Raven. When did you arrive in orbit, and when can I get back to Angel Island?" Claire asked Andae, who stared at her as if she'd gone mad,

"Didn't you hear, and can't you see?" he gestured at the base around them, "We're not on Earth any-" The group nearly ran into Burwell and Scott. The two parties blurted out greetings, Burwell explaining he and Scott had searched approximately half the sections. Blakus noticed that the marine colonel seemed as bewildered as he was himself, while Lieutenant Scott compared to the SMO was maintaining an impressive calm.

Vur'ka had approached a panel in the wall which apparently gave access to the external fortress; she turned and explained that her suspicions were confirmed, Talthor's absence had been discovered and armed personnel had been ordered to the holosuites...

[Carl Torek]

"..... Do your search, I will be reporting this to the highest authorities, you can count on that!" the Baskin hologram said, turning to stomp away, leaving the Marines watching his theatrical retreat .....

For a full second, Burwell found himself hoping Baskin had been the genuine article, so to speak, that way he would have enjoyed the satisfaction of knocking the arrogant Head of Administration on his behind!

Alas, he would have to forego the expectation and continue their search for Simmons' wife and daughter.

They had begun with the civilian areas, checking each room and auditorium in turn, they were about to move to another section when they realised that the people they were searching for were standing in a queue for the Base Visitors Centre, about thirty metres ahead. Asking David Scott to keep a wary eye out for Baskin, he walked over to the two:

"Mrs Simmons ....." the woman turned, surprised to see a Marine Colonel addressing her.

"Can I help you?"

"Ma'am, I've been sent by Admiral Torek, I'm to escort you and your daughter back to the Raven immediately,"

"Is there a problem?" the woman asked, moving between Burwell and her daughter.

"Nothing serious, but we need to get you back to the ship as soon as possible," the Marine insisted, wondering inwardly why everyone had to question the simplest of instructions rather than just doing as asked.

"I'm sorry?" the woman asked.

"Ma'am ..... I'm not sure what you have been told regarding your trip, but you are not at the Utopia Planitia Fleetyards, you are on a Klingon Superfortress located in the Jalkoth System. You, along with Commander Tinsley's wife and children are being held hostage to ensure the Raven's compliance. Now we have located you, it is only a matter of time before the Klingons realise it, so we need to get you and your daughter to the safety of the Raven before we are taken recaptured!"

"Excuse me?!" she replied, almost laughing.

He stood looking at the woman who was obviously debating the validity of Burwell's comments rather than accepting what he was saying. He was about to further insist on their compliance when Scott approached them.

"Mrs Simmons, good to see you safe and well..." David said, continuing before she could reply, "... Colonel, I have the feeling Baskin has informed what he thinks is his superiors, I've just seen two Klingon Officers step into the Reception Area. Given our 'supposed' location, it's doubtful they are holograms,"

"Holograms?" Simmons' wife repeated frustratingly.

"Agreed..." Burwell said, turning to Simmons' wife, "... Ma'am, we are out of time. I need you and your daughter to cooperate, right now!" infuriatingly, rather than doing as asked, she started to look around for the two Klingons. All semblance of patience gone, Burwell reached out and grasped the sleeve of her jacket, pulling her forcibly from the queue. Scott crouched and picked up the girl before they moved to one side, hopefully out of sight.

"Any ideas?" Burwell queried, eyes scanning the Civilians, technicians, and Starfleet Officers, hoping to spot their pursuers before they were located.

"I assume the arch, or whatever the Klingon version is, isn't an option?" the Scott queried, his sarcasm obvious.

"We'll keep to the walls, the Klingons will undoubtedly try looking into the crowd first, then we'll try to make our way to an alternate exit," Burwell said, glaring at the woman as if silently 'daring' her to object. With a curt nod he turned, still holding her sleeve when someone spoke to him:

"Colonel ..... I see you have achieved your goal, too little too late, I believe is the appropriate comment..." turning in the direction of the voice, he was drawing his phaser when Lieutenant Yang stepped in from of Vur'ka.

"They know we're here," Blakus informed them.

"Your only hope of escape is to enter the Service Passages that run parallel to each of the holosuites..." the Klingon woman informed the group, "... From there you will need to find a location in which contact with your vessel is achievable,"

"..... And just 'how' do you believe we can get into these Service Passages?" Burwell asked.

"It will be difficult, given the fact that the simulation is still running, but I am sure that with a little of your Federation ingenuity, something will present itself," Vur'ka said with a shrug, clearly enjoying their predicament.

"Any thoughts on how we might locate one of the access panels?" Andae asked.

"Each holosuite has two, both set onto the walls adjacent to the entrance/exit..... You 'should' be able to locate each panel by a small green indicator, alas it will undoubtedly be interlaced with the surrounding holoprojection,"

"Which way did you come in?" Burwell asked.

"Through the door..." the Klingon woman replied cryptically, "... Directly behind me I believe,"

"Then let's check each door exiting the Reception Area, one of them has to be the panel we're looking for!" Blakus ordered. They had tried a total of three doors when Ken Zu Yang called them over ..... He was standing beside a door just like the other nondescript doors at the Utopia Planitia Ground Facility, but as he reached for the activation pad his hand passed through it. He moved to allow Burwell to try, and the Marine grinned as he felt a solid handle that rotated upwards as he applied pressure. Pausing for a moment he leaned forward, the holographic simulation disappearing from view, replaced by a rusted circular hatch, beyond which he could see a dank passageway ..........

[Andae Blakus]

OOC: Note, all of below is within the main holoprogram. Blakus only figures out a little bit of it, and while he's on the right track he and the others are still fundamentally deceived. I'll write in the real world soon lol.

They passed down the service corridor wondering where it might lead them. Andae thought how they surely couldn't evade the Klingon soldiers forever - heading out from the holosuite would bring them into the main part of the base where they were very likely to find many more of Talthor's underlings.

"There's no indication that the fortress's shield frequency has changed," Vur'ka had told them, "My fellow warriors know Talthor is missing and may well have discovered he's on your vessel, hence their hastening to punish the families, but they don't yet appear to have realised someone has beamed through Jalkoth's shield grid!"

Andae guessed their goal should be to get far enough away from their presumed pursuers to be able to contact the Raven or - if comms were blocked - to allow the Raven to get a clear enough signal outside of the holosuite complex to beam them back via commbadges or subdermal transponders. Beaming from the holosuite complicated things - trying to have a transporter find its way through a series of photonic fields to reach corporeal targets was no easy task.

"Andae, will you dine with the Tinsleys tonight?" Claire Tinsley asked him, the two walking behind Scott who had point.

He grunted, "Well, yes, if we can get back to the Raven in one piece and by then seen the back of Talthor - the Klingon who seems to be in charge of all this, along with your Annex friends in Frisco. I wouldn't count on it though. Perhaps tomorrow?"

Claire didn't respond at first; in Andae's periphery it seemed that for a moment her face became a mask, before she relaxed and asked another question, "Andae, will you dine with the Tinsleys tonight?"

"Are you joking...?" he trailed off in the barest murmur. It wasn't just the restatement of the same words; the tone and the expression on her face, both were virtually identical to before, almost as if she'd reset. He glanced ahead at Scott and back to Claire, "If you'll excuse me for a moment." Jogging forward to the marine LT, he asked about the tricorder that Scott had been using since entering suite 4 with Burwell, and directed him to turn and surreptitiously scan Claire Tinsley as the whole group kept walking. Scott did so, rotating towards Claire, scanning her and turning back to forward in one movement. He asked the XO what he was supposed to be looking for.

"A lifesign. Carbon-based biology, or... something photonic."

"What?" the marine shook his head and studied the tricorder, "Human, sir."

"Give me that. It's not working properly," he virtually snatched the device out of Scott's hand; beginning to suppose he'd been wrong about Claire, he found himself scanning through previous lifesigns the tricorder had registered, and discovered it had been active for most of the time Scott had been in suite 4, whether he'd been using the device or not; it'd registered many biosignatures at Utopia Planitia, all of them Federation species and apparently none of them holographic. "There really is something wrong with this thing..." he murmured, "It's as holographic as all the people - I mean all the holograms - that its scanned! A holographic device scans a hologram; chances are it'll read it as biological."

"I guess I must've picked it up on entry into the suite," Scott said, seeming unflustered.

"What are you saying?" Burwell asked, having heard a little of their exchange and joining them, "Tinsley's wife, and Mrs Simmons, too, I take it?"

"There's no other explanation for Claire's behaviour. And what applies to her must surely apply to Simmons and their respective daughters." Andae thought on the matter, realisation clawing at him, "I think this has been a ruse. The Klingons and Annex knew we'd attempt a rescue once we returned from Cardassian space and Betazed. They lured us in and now their soldiers have come to destroy us and not the holographic families."

"There's one problem with your theory, Commander," Burwell said, "Mrs Tinsley and Simmons are still here."

Andae nodded, having considered it, "We must still be in range of the holoemitters; we're in a passage between two holosuites after all."

His commbadge chirped, the voice that came slightly grainy, =/\=Commander Blakus, this is the Raven. Do you read?=/\=

=/\=Aye, Admiral. Glad the Raven's managed to get a comm signal.=/\= Torek asked him to report; Andae paused, considering the matter vis-a-vis the families, =/\=... We have the Tinsleys and Simmonses, sir, but there are extenuating circumstances. Please try to get a lock on all of us, except as arranged Vur'ka, but I think only four of us will be materialising and not eight.=/\= If he was wrong about the families and they were human after all, they would be transported aboard the Sovereign class.

It was to his shock then that the Tinsley and Simmons families coalesced on the pad along with himself and the three marines.

[Carl Torek]

Man Bridge ...
USS Raven-C ::


"So what are we actually looking at!" Wedlerson asked.

"We're not exactly sure..." Milyanov said, obviously frustrated, "... There is clearly a discrepancy between what we would 'expect' to see, and what we are 'actually' seeing ....."

"Which tell's me nothing," Harry said, well aware that the other Bridge Officers were privy to the conversation.

"It's obvious now that Talthor or someone with enough authority, is preventing us from monitoring our own people, we've heard nothing from the Away Team, which in itself starts bells ringing..." Nate said, seeing others nod their agreement, "... I just think that we should start looking more closely at that monstrosity out there. Not so blatant that we light the place up, but enough to cut through whatever screens they are utilising,"

"Harry..." Lysia interjected quietly, "... I think we all agree that there's obviously something wrong over there, so we need to find out what it is, and how it affects our people,"

"I agree, but it still leaves the question of how do we get what we need 'without' letting the Klingons, or whoever else is over there, know we're looking?" Wedlerson retorted.

"Is there any way we could transport someone over there undetected?" Harry asked, aiming the query at the Engineers. Milyanov and Tinsely looked at each other then Nate nodded:

"We could try to beam one, maybe two, no more, into the Fortress, but if it went wrong ....." he shrugged, not bothering to state the frighteningly obvious, there was no need to do so.

"Commander..." Wedlerson began, addressing the defacto Chief Engineer, "... Both you and Commander Tinsley are basically saying that the Klingons could be projecting information to our sensor arrays ..... So is there 'any' way we could counteract that data sufficiently enough to allow us to transport someone aboard the Fortress?"

"Getting someone over there isn't that big a problem..." Milyanov said, frowning, "... The issues start when their own internal sensor pick up new arrivals,"

"What about replacing one of their 'people' with our own?" T'Seng asked.

"Yes ....." Tinsley said excitedly, "... If we can lock on to one of these people we could substitute a 'real' person for the photonic ..... I'd say it's doubtful their program would differentiate between a real person and a fake,"

"Just out of curiosity here..." Lysia asked, seeing the others look at her waiting for her to continue, "... What are our objectives? ..... We could go over there 'guns blazing' so to speak, and find we've dropped into the middle of an issue far above out proverbial pay grades, or, we could beam into a vacuum, basically ending any rescue, if one existed," she said, falling silent.

"We 'could' possibly modify tricorders to ensure whatever readings we get once over there are correct, the readings wouldn't be one hundred percent reliable, but .....?" Nate suggested.

"OK, I suggest we get to work on the tricorders, and once we have a working solution we reconvene?" Harry suggested. Milyanov, Nate and Lysia, all agreed ..... As each Officer began to look for solutions ..........

[Carl Torek]

"There's one problem with your theory, Commander," Burwell said, "Mrs Tinsley and Simmons are still here."

Andae nodded, having considered it, "We must still be within the range of the holo emitters. We're in a passage between two holosuites after all," His commbadge chirped, the voice that came slightly grainy:

=^= Commander Blakus .. This is the Raven .. Do you read? =^= the Senior Marine Officer watched the Exec' as he tried in the most basic terms to inform the ship regarding possible outcomes to their being transported, so he was as shocked as Blakus as the group materialised ..... Quickly he led the two women and the children off the transporter pad, instructing Yang and Scott to accompany them to Main Sickbay for thorough check-ups.

~~~~~~~~~~

"What's was all that about?" Torek asked as the transporter room emptied.

Truth be told, Burwell wasn't one hundred percent sure the Exec' was correct in his assumption that they had still been in the holo-program, but he had no means to confirm or debunk the theory, so remained silent as Blakus updated the Admiral.

"Sir..." Burwell asked, receiving a nod from Torek, "... Have Tactical scan the Fortress and give us a reading as to how many people are aboard," Knowing to trust his Officers' instincts, he contacted the Bridge and asked for a reading.

"Does that sound about right?" Carl asked as Tactical confirmed there were six thousand one hundred ninety-two life signs.

"To be honest ..... No ..... But for the life of me, I can't give you any plausible reason why the number doesn't sound at all right..." Burwell said, frowning in thought as they walked towards the turbolifts, "... As Commander Blakus briefly referred to, we were having difficulties while over there. We half expected only the four away team members, Commander Blakus, Lieutenants Zu Yang and Scott, and myself, of course, to transport back. Believing that the civilians could possibly be part of the holo-program, and 'not' the real spouses and children of Tinsley and Simmons, but I guess that speculation was proved wrong when they materialised,"

The Senior Marine was still frowning as they stepped off the turbolift and onto the Bridge.

"Well, I'm sure Doctor Roach will shout if she finds anything amiss..." Torek said, glancing at the enormous structure that dwarfed the Sovereign Class Raven, "... It does appear you upset someone over there ..... We were contacted a few moments before we beamed you out, to say there was an issue locating you, they were sending teams out to find you, it seemed a little strange at the time, given they 'must' have known you transported into the vicinity of their holosuits,"

Burwell saw Blakus frown but remain silent.

"..... And Vur'ka was playing ball, keeping you informed and remaining behind to assist your return to the ship. Awfully compliant of her," Torek continued cynically before dropping into the centre seat. Again the Exec' and Senior Marine exchanged glances behind Torek, both concerned about the Commanding Officers' comments, which seemed 'out of sync' with recent proceedings.

"Has there been any more word on Talthor?" Burwell asked.

"They're none too happy about our transporting him off their fortress without permission, which possibly accounts for the fact they were searching for the families, eye for an eye, but since you came back they haven't bothered to contact us with either a request or demand that we return their Leader. This is all going pear-shaped fast..." Carl said, shaking his head, "... Does it not seem strange that even though we have informed them that we have neutralised the implants on our guests, they haven't threatened us in any way shape or form?"

"They could be cutting their losses," Calli, who had been listening to the conversation speculated.

"I'm still having trouble with a couple of things here..." the Senior Marine said, knowing that Command discussions were not his forté, preferring to follow orders rather than discuss political ramifications good or bad, "... If the original information we received, which said that there were four 'carriers' ..... Each possessing a quarter of the information both this Cabal and Annex needed to commence any action, either against or in support of, the Federation... So if we assume that neither side can progress with their plans, good or otherwise, without all four segments of data, then surely there's nothing to go forward with, their objectives basically null and void?"

"I have the feeling that one side or the other won't wait to get access, if it's gone then it's gone, no point in mulling over what could have been. It will just make either side's efforts that much more difficult..." Calli commented, "... It's only a matter of time before the Federation begin rounding up ring leaders. Once that starts the minions will start to run for collective cover in my opinion,"

"So what would be your recommendation, Colonel?" Torek asked.

"I'd be inclined to contact Starfleet Command, have them send us at least one more Starship as support, then tell these Klingons we're shutting down their little operation," For the briefest of moments, he could have sworn that Torek had frozen in his seat before Blakus added his opinions ..........

[Carl Torek]

Chief Engineering Officers Office ...
Deck Eleven - Main Engineering Upper Level
USS Raven-C ::


Wedlerson looked at each of the Officers in turn: Milyanov, Nate Tinsley, Lysia T'Seng, and Christine Taylor .....

"So the basic conclusion is that we're struggling to successfully replace one of the holo-characters with one of our people?"

"We've tried countless suggestions, all of which would require us having access to their holosuite controls..." Milyanov said, placing a commbadge on the desk, "... The closest we've come is that,"

"A commbadge?" Harry said needlessly.

"Yes, but that one is transmitting a frequency that if it's in contact with a photonic replication, will disrupt the depiction in favour of anything solid in its space,"

" ..... And it works?" Wedlerson asked, clearly dubious.

"Well ..... Yes, and no..." Milyanov replied, "... We've been trying it out on the holodeck, beaming each other in and out of the suite, sometimes in close proximity to a photonic, sometimes directly on top, or rather occupying the same relative spatial coordinates within the 'suite. The modified commbadge disrupts then deletes the photonic representation, but each time we've tried the disruption has been picked up almost instantly,"

"But you are going off the fact that you have what, half a dozen holo characters, and are beaming one 'real' person onto that projection..." Harry said, deep in thought, "... What're the chances of their systems picking up two out of presumably thousands of holo projected civilians, what happens when you have a holosuite full of people?"

"We ran several tests using an old holo-program of a small establishment where a group was playing, there were approximately four hundred in the audience..." Nate said, bringing up the detailed information on the large viewscreen attached to the wall, "... We replaced the drummer and checked. It took fractionally longer for the system to detect the substitution, so we then put beamed Lysia into the holosuite from the corridor outside, directly on top of an existing photonic audience member. The time was appreciably extended, but as I said, that was in a room with approximately four hundred people,"

"We are speculating that given they are producing several 'thousands' of people throughout the Fortress..." Lysia commented, "... No mean feat, given the power requirements of the number of holo-emitters they must be using, that if we were to replace two of their photonics, it could take some considerable time before alarm bell began to ring, figuratively speaking," the Tactical Officer said with a shrug.

"To be honest, we can't agree on a timeframe..." Christine Taylor interjected, "... If we went purely on our own findings, extending the time exponentially for the number of photonics, it could be hours, if at all before our people are discovered. But as Commander T'Seng pointed out, we have no way to gauge what their power requirements are, or how fast their computers could detect a single anomaly,"

"This could all be moot if they have somehow managed to 'fool' our sensors into believing there are thousands of people wandering around that thing..." Tinsley said, "... I still believe that there is no way the Klingons have gone to all the trouble of opening what they themselves deem as a 'Centre of Commerce' in this Sector of space 'JUST' to get one over on us,"

"The Commander believes there are only a handful of people over there, holding our Officers," Christine said.

"I do ..... And I believe that if we were to find an unoccupied section of the Fortress we could beam over there without any issues," Tinsley said.

"If we go with your reasoning, and there is only a handful of Klingons over there..." Milyanov said, nodding to the Engineer, "... We're still stuck with the problem that even if we completely disregard what our sensors are telling us, we would be effectively beaming in blind, we could end up beaming into a section that's open to vacuum,"

"Then send two people over there in 'EVA' suits ..... In fact, I'll volunteer. If there's a breathable atmosphere and gravity then the suits can be easily discarded..." Nate said, as frustrated as the others in the office, "... I think that given Raven's position relative to the Fortress, it's doubtful our people are being held on the far side. More likely they are close to us, so maybe within five hundred metres either way from our closest point,"

"..... And if you are discovered?" Wedlerson asked.

"Then we'll activate a transponder to warn you, either way, you'll know they are lying through their jagged teeth!" Nate said, trying hard not to jump to his feet. He, like everyone else, knew the burden on the Operations Officers' shoulders, he was the Raven's Second Officer, and in the absence of Torek and Blakus, was effectively in Command, but just like Carl and Andae, welcomed input from the Command Staff ..... In turn, Harry knew how the Admiral ran his briefings. Torek had always allowed what he referred to as a 'Chinese Parliament' approach to briefings, where everyone around the table had an equal voice, rank or position didn't matter, allowing for a free exchange of ideas, comments, and suggestions, each took at face value.

"Thoughts?" Harry commented.

"Well, the commbadge idea is basically sound..." Milyanov said, looking around the table, continuing when no one else interrupted, "... But I have to agree with Nate. Physically transporting two people over there as close as we can speculate to our Away Team, seems more advantageous than taking what could effectively be 'pot luck' in finding them," Harry sat in silence for a moment then spoke:

"Anything else...?" he asked the table, continuing after a short pause, continuing when no one spoke, "... OK ..... Commander Milyanov, Commander T'Seng, suit up. We'll try to locate a suitable location, but be ready for a slog," With that, the meeting broke up. Lysia and Milyanov headed for one of the EVA Suit storage rooms and began climbing into their suits. Technicians helped and ensured they were both furnished with phasers and the newly-modified ricorders .....

~~~~~~~~~~

The comm chirped to life as Transporter Room Two confirmed Milyanov and T'Seng were ready to go ..... Ever since the possibility that the Klingons were somehow deceiving them regarding sensor data, the Raven had been trying to find a workaround. Now they were relatively confident that drops in signal data could mean black spots in the Klingon data transmissions, so Harry had asked Lysia's Deputy to pick out the more prominent 'gaps' and focus on them. With a last look around the Bridge, he gave the order to the Transporter Chief:

=^= Commence transport =^=

Jalkoth Superfortress! ::

Milyanov and T'Seng materialised into semi-darkness, their eyes taking asecond to adjust ..... The bulkheads were damp with prolonged exposure to running water, the floors were sticky. Lysia took out her tricorder. Nodding to Milyanov, he broke the seal on his helmet visor and took a tentative breath. The air, while dank, stale, was breathable ..........

[Andae Blakus]

USS Raven, a few hundred kilometres off Jalkoth fortress

Milyanov thought he had a solution to the problem of transporting one or more crew onto the fortress - or whatever was the station's true nature - and beaming the same number of non-existent lifeforms onto the Raven, beings which would of course disappear as soon as their photonic projections were scattered by the transporter system as it tried to find and take hold of baryonic matter.

He tapped his commbadge, =/\=Bridge, engineering. I believe I have an answer to our problem, sir,=/\= he addressed Wedlerson who although was of the same rank as the engineer had seniority in the chain of command, =/\=I think it'll only work for two, possibly three personnel, but we should be able to get people onto the fortress undetected. I've customised a tricorder, too, to detect real lifesigns, and am ready to replicate copies.=/\=

Apart from all the other risks, there was of course the chance the Raven crew were taking that holoprojections, sensor ghosts - whatever the true nature of the Klingons' deceiving systems and potential countermeasures to a prospective team's detection of the base's simulacra may be - extended through large sections of the fortress. If an away team transported into a section without these holo-ghost systems, there would be no one for the Raven to simultaneously take in exchange, and with no way to differentiate between real occupants of the base and sensor ghosts the Starfleeters couldn't very well transport into a real section of the fortress and take real Klingons in return, unless it was by accident.

Milyanov continued, =/\=We've deduced that the Heisenberg compensators can be modified to allow for -=/\=

=/\=Ok, spare us the technical details, Commander... Thank you,=/\= Harry added appreciatively, =/\=If you're confident it'll work, I'm confident it'll work.=/\=

=/\=Thank you,=/\= the Chief Engineer replied at the pool table, Tinsley standing the opposite side trying to hide a grin.

=/\=Oh, don't thank me yet... Because you're on the away team, Milyanov." Milyanov's own smile faded. "Transporter room 1. And Lysia, you...=/\= Both engineers heard the tail-end of the comm as it was closed, the Ops Chief requesting T'Seng join Milyanov in the transporter room to beam aboard the fortress into what they hoped would be an inconspicuous location.

* * *

The Chief Engineer and Chief of Tactical and Security dematerialised from the pad to be replaced by nothing at all. The operator nodded, =/\=Transport complete, bridge. Holographic signals scattered by the returning beam.=/\=

Now on the fortress, T'Seng and Milyanov were at first pleased - the series of rooms they'd beamed into was virtually deserted, empty of any hostiles - but as Milyanov began his scans with his modified tricorder and they searched a little further he was forced to change his opinion, "The Raven must've taken the replacement photonic lifeforms from elsewhere... This section at least is no holo-projection or anything of the sort..." he shook his head and intoned, "This is the real Jalkoth fortress." They stared at the ruin and detritus all about them, the failing ceiling illumination, flickering wall-mounted control panels, "We've got to contact the Raven."

T'Seng's own tricorder started beeping, registering tenuous lifesigns growing stronger as they drew closer - flesh-and-blood Klingons. "We've got incoming," she said. A yellow disruptor beam streaked past Milyanov's right shoulder.

In the ensuing melee, he was sure he heard one of the attackers call out to a fellow warrior, "Get a message to the holosuite; inform Talthor we've been boarded!"

[Carl Torek]

It took seconds to confirm they were actually within the structure known as the Jalkoth Super-fortress .....

"This is the real Jalkoth Fortress. We've got to contact the Raven!" Milyanov said as Lysia simultaineously confirmed they were about to have some unwelcome company, her comment highlighted by the beam of energy that lanced past the Chief Engineers' shoulder, missing the man by mere centimetres. Both Federation Officers dropped to one knee, reducing the target area for their opponents as they returned fire.

Milyanov hit one of their attackers and then repositioned himself. It was then he heard one of the Klingons pass an instruction to someone out of sight:

"Get a message to the holosuite; inform Talthor we've been boarded!"

Milyanov wasted no time ..... He rolled over, firing in the general direction of their attackers before firing several times over the shoulders of the leading Klingons ..... There was no way for him to know if he had hit the man instructed to pass on the warning, or even if the message had got through, and now they realized there were at least five more Klingons returning fire. Without hesitating, Lysia flung herself forwards, using a rust-laden bulkhead stanchion for cover before firing into the throng of Klingons, three died in quick succession before Milyanov terminated the remaining two. Unnervingly, all fell quiet.

Tentatively, both Milyanov and T'Seng got to their feet, the Chief Engineer cautiously inching forward to confirm their erstwhile attackers were indeed dead, and therefore, of no further concern to the Federation Officers.

"We should hide the bodies," Lysia suggested. Milyanov agreed and they took the time to move the dead into one of the dank rooms before dragging the inoperative door as close to closed as possible.

"What now?" Milyanov asked.

"There's got to be a way into the occupied section or sections of the Fortress..." Lysia said, activating her modified tricorder and checking the readings, "... What did Christine say was the effective range of these tricorders?"

"They are reliable out to seventy-five metres, no more than that,"

"Great ....." T'Seng said, moving the device through an arc left and right before shaking her head, "..... Well, it looks like the Klingons came from that direction, this thing isn't showing any holo-emitters in the vicinity, which doesn't mean much in the scheme of things. But it is telling me that there is a steady power source approximately fifty metres in that direction," she said, motioning off to their left.

"Then we're going that way," Milyanov said with a resigned shrug .....

As they cautiously made their way along the dank semi-lit corridor, Lysia posed a question:

"That Klingon instructed a subordinate to contact Talthor ....."

"Yes, I heard,"

"So .... We have already confirmed the Klingons' use of advanced holo-technology, and it's a pretty sure assumption that our Away Team is likely inside one of those holosuites, presumably with Talthor himself,"

"Get to the point, Commander, or you might find that you're asking your question to the Klingons themselves," Milyanov interrupted impatiently, immediately regretting snapping at the Chief Tactical Security Officer, she was voicing a valid concern, he realised that. He was about to apologise when she said there was no need.

"What if ..... And it's a long shot here ..... What if Talthor, a couple of his close associates, and our Away Team, are the 'ONLY' real people in one of their simulations...!?" she asked as they continued along the damp, rust-strewn corridor, "... The reason we've not heard anything from the Away Team is that they are inside one of Talthor's holosuites, and until we can monitor in real-time what program is running, there's no way we can ascertain 'what' our people could be reacting to!" For a fraction of a second, Milyanov was willing to dismiss T'Seng's speculations as ludicrous, but as he thought about it, there was a very plausible element to her hypothesise.

"But we have no real way of knowing how many of the holosuites they have, how many are operational, and the 'million bars of gold-pressed latinum' question would have to be: Which one, if any, our people are in?"

"Then we find the first suite and go from there," Lysia retorted.

"All the while avoiding any meandering Klingons I assume?" the Engineer said with a wry grin before heading out along the corridor Lysia had earlier pointed out ..........

[Carl Torek]

"So what would be your recommendation, Colonel?" Torek asked.

"I'd be inclined to contact Starfleet Command, have them send us at least one more Starship as support, then tell these Klingons we're shutting down their little operation," For the briefest of moments, he could have sworn that Torek had frozen in his seat before Blakus added his opinions.

They discussed options for a further hour, finally, they agreed with the Senior Marines' suggestion. As everyone returned to their duties, Carl asked his Comms Officer to establish a priority subspace communication with both Starfleet Command, and with Section Admiral Gheskori, Torek's immediate superior .....

Imediately Following the Above Communication ::

Carl contacted the Bridge to request his Senior Staff meet him in the Conference Room. With everyone seated he began:

"OK... Both Starfleet Command and Section Admiral Gheskori are understandably concerned with the latest turn of events, agreeing with Colonel Burwell's hypothesis, that without all four segments of information, neither faction could continue as planned ..... That being the case, they believe there could be two primary outcomes... A: Both sides discontinue their efforts, the most ideal outcome obviously, or B: Either side decides to continue regardless of their failure to attain all the data required. This, Command believe could bring us into a 'worst-case scenario' situation very quickly,"

"So what do they suggest?" Burwell asked.

"Thay have diverted the USS Tian Shi, a Nebula Class Starship under the Command of Captain Naoki Onishi, she's experienced in combative scenarios and will basically standoff until needed. But Captain Onishi has also been given authority to act independently if she feels either vessel is in danger, or they lose contact with us at any point,"

"How long before they get here?" Andae asked.

"Six hours," Torek confirmed.

"So where do we go in the meantime?" Calli asked. Carl held up a hand to speak to his Chief Security Tactical Officer:

"Lysia, how many vessels are currently stationed in the immediate proximity of the Fortress?" Carl asked.

"Twenty-six within ten thousand metres, eight of which are Klingon Warships and capable of holding their own..." she said, checking the Tactical data relayed from the Bridge on the PADD in front of her, "... The remainder are all from Federation Member worlds, so it's highly unlikely any of them would even consider taking up a combative posture against us,"

"So we're looking at four to one if it hits the fan," Burwell commented in his usual no-nonsense manner.

"Why not see what Talthor has to say..." Lieutenant Svensson commented, seeing everyone turn to face him, "... There's no saying he wouldn't at least 'consider' some sort of truce, given the circumstances?"

"I don't know, it's clear he and his associates have gone to a 'lot' of trouble over this information, and they are all facing numerous charges, none of which are likely to stick without extensive proof of intended action against the Federation, all of which he will undoubtedly be aware is speculative at best until acted upon. So I'd be inclined to keep him on board the Raven for the time being. If nothing else, as an assurance that his friends won't take any overt action against us?" Calli commented.

"..... And if they decide to cut their losses, deem Talthora 'casualty' so to speak. Also, what do we know of the group mentioned?" Doctor Roach asked.

"Federation Security has picked up two of the three presumed leaders of the Cabal: Frank Winter and Robert Grange, both former Ambassadors..." Torek confirmed, "... Only former High Ambassador, Edina Wright, is still at large, all three were heading back into Federation Space from the Kolarin System in the Romulan Neutral Zone when their ship developed an untimely fault in their drive systems. The USS Milano picked up their distress single and picked them up... It seems the former High Ambassador used her position to order the Milano's Captain to divert to Delta Lionis where she left the ship,"

"I'm guessing there's a 'and' coming?" Burwell said, seeing Torek pause.

"Yes ..... The directive to detain the three aged Ambassadors came a little too late, they had Grange and Winter already, but by the time they returned to Delta Lionis, Wright had already left, we can only assume she chose that destination because she already had plans and people in place there for such a contingency, at this point her location is, unknown," Carl finished with a resigned shrug.

"The Milano's captain didn't question her credentials?" T'Seng asked.

"As you know, anyone attaining the Rank of High Ambassador holds that commission for life, whether active or inactive. So as far as the Captain was concerned, her authority ultimately overruled his own, so he did as instructed," Blakus explained.

"So we call Talthor's bluff...!" the Senior Marine said decisively, "... Tell him any plans he had are defunct and he's looking at a significant stay at the Federations pleasure,"

"Never going to happen," T'Seng said.

"Commander Vur'ka seems to be coming around to our way of thinking in regards to this whole 'destroying the Federation' thing..." Burwell said as the table went quiet, "... Why not offer her some incentive to take that next step against Talthor?"

"For example?" Carl asked.

"Not for me to say," he said grinning ..........